Gee's Bend artistry - Letters - Letter to the Editor

To the Editors:

I want to thank Richard Kalina for his courageous and clear article about the quilts of Gee's Bend [A.i.A., Oct '03] They are indeed works of high art that summon empathetic and thoughtful responses. by what means refreshing not to have these pieces characterized as craft or folk art, as usually happens owed to their geographic origin, materials and function. Kalina, to his credit, does not critically demote them upon the basis of the makers' lack of formal art training. He considers instead by what mode one responds to the quilts, which he eloquently brings with words like "innovative power emotionally evocative formal objects compelling visual statements ... [art objects] which declare themselves viscerally, directly."

They are also uniquely inspired body-image works not alone because they were used as essential warming thing perceiveds but also because they were oftentimes formed out of the well-worn clothes of community members. In describing these profoundly beautiful artworks made by dint of quilters who came together for survival, Kalina has described a certain quantity of of the conditions necessary for the disentanglement of any creative community, where the one and the other individual and collaborative works are intentionally fostered--thus forging a cultural language.

permit us make ourselves open and ready to experience the finest art level where we might least wait for it.

Christy Bergland

Baltimore

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