On February 29, Gaynor held a Black History Month Quilting Workshop, titled “Quilting Community: Threading Our Stories.” Sponsored by the PA DEI Committee and organized by the BIPOC Family Affinity Group, this event celebrated the rich legacy of quilting in Black communities. The workshop was facilitated by fabric artist Pat Mabry, who is affiliated with the Caribbean Cultural Center (CCCAD) in Harlem, and is part of the Harlem Girls Quilting Circle.
Members of the Gaynor community gathered in the Performing Arts Center to decorate their very own quilt squares. Each attendee was given two squares to decorate: a square of white fabric, and a square of colored fabric. The tables were laid with bowls of markers, stencils, glittery felt hearts, beads, shells, and other items that could be placed onto the square and attached with fabric glue. Before the decorating began, Mrs. Mabry gave a short introduction to quilts and their history. She explained how a quilt is made up of three parts: the top quilt, the batting (or stuffing), and the back. She spoke about how she had traveled to Ghana and was inspired by African textiles she saw there. Mrs. Mabry also noted that her mother-in-law was a quilt maker, that she had traveled to Senegal to visit her and see her quilts, and how she was a big inspiration for her as well. She spoke about how quilts in the Black community have historically been used to tell stories, saying “A lot of you probably know that in the history of quilting, [quilts] would tell stories, particularly stories of slavery or of segregation. They can also have symbols, like in slavery times when the Abolitionists would put symbols in the quilts and hang them over their porches so that the slaves would know this is a safe house, or give directions for a safe route to travel to the North.” Mrs. Mabry also displayed some of her own quilts, and explained the story or theme that she had chosen for each of them, and what materials she had used. She showcased the diversity that quilts can have, and how they don’t have to just be for bedding but can be works of art.
Then it was time for everyone to decorate their quilt squares. There was a great display of creativity in the room, as attendees made use of the variety of materials they were given so no two squares looked alike! Mrs. Mabry encouraged everyone to use their square to tell a story, one that could be anything from a dream they had to a favorite memory with their friends and family. Some attendees portrayed themselves and things they enjoy on their quilt, by using the seashells to display their love for the sea, or creating abstract representations of their group of friends with buttons. It was so exciting to see how individuals interpret their stories differently, and how they then chose to display them on their square.
The goal of the workshop is that Mrs. Mabry will use the squares from attendees and sew them into a finished quilt that will represent the Gaynor community! We are very excited to see the final product, and are so thankful to Mrs. Mabry for leading this workshop and helping both educate and create great memories for the Gaynor community.
