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Accidentally on Purpose: The Aesthetic Management of Irregularities in African Textiles and African-American Quilts
This catalogue has been published in conjunction with the Accidentally on Improvisation in African Textiles and African-American Quilts, presented at the Figge Art Museum, Davenport, Iowa from November 18, 2006 to February 11, 2007.
Accidentally on Purpose presents 129 African textiles and improvisational African-American quilts by 61 quilters. These quilts differ from standard-traditional quilts in their use of approximate measurement, flexible patterns, bold colors, strong contrast, multiple patterns, shifts in scale, scrap applique, and construction techniques similar to those used in West and Central African textiles. The exhibition and catalogue explore the relationship between these transatlantic traditions. Accidentally on Purpose celebrates the sophistication, vivacity, and significance of improvisational African-American quilts, both as artistic achievements and as expressions of African-American culture.
Accidentally on Purpose presents 129 African textiles and improvisational African-American quilts by 61 quilters. These quilts differ from standard-traditional quilts in their use of approximate measurement, flexible patterns, bold colors, strong contrast, multiple patterns, shifts in scale, scrap applique, and construction techniques similar to those used in West and Central African textiles. The exhibition and catalogue explore the relationship between these transatlantic traditions. Accidentally on Purpose celebrates the sophistication, vivacity, and significance of improvisational African-American quilts, both as artistic achievements and as expressions of African-American culture.
175 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 25, 2018
This book is a must read by every quilt historian and quiltmaker of today. Mr. Leon is an expert who has spent over 25 years studying the aesthetics of what he calls Afro-Traditional quilts, tracing design elements to various woven textiles of West and Central Africa. It is a book that requires not just close purposeful reading but studying. I took copious notes, underlined and marked pages of specific interest. With lots of photos of quilts and their related forms in African textiles one must read and then find the photo or illustration to truly see what he is saying while looking at the textile itself. Of course, all text and images are not able to be nicely arranged on adjoining pages so there is much flipping back and forth to study sometimes multiple examples that portray a certain point. This close and serious observation is essential as it serves to increase awareness of construction and design elements which may go unnoticed especially by Euro-American quiltmakers with just a quick look; honing observational skills to be employed when viewing any textile.
Some common characteristics of Afro-Traditional quilt are (1)large scale (2)bold contrast (3)irregular borders (4)strip construction (5)approximate measurement (6)integration of 'accidentals' (just seeing what goes together-putting things together that please you (7)common use of squares, rectangles and half-squares.(8) piecing almost exclusively from scraps. Making something useful and pretty from 'nothing'.
In keeping with the book title he sites various examples that indicate intentional design even in pieces that appear to be randomly set. Studying the work of one quiltmaker you may see mastery in precision work showing her capable of such precision where in another she does not match seams or follow 'rules' of either structure, color or contrast.
I am interested in doing more research on this type of 'improv' quilt within the broader quilting communities. My aunt, a white woman raised in a rural community but later living in a big city, made quilts in a similar manner.
A quote at the end about hanging clothes on the line especially speaks to aesthetic inclination and intent,"When I do the laundry...I never randomly pull something out of the machine...a particular shade of emerald green can look very nice next to a rich magenta. I carefully hang the pieces into a colorful wavelength of energy."
Some common characteristics of Afro-Traditional quilt are (1)large scale (2)bold contrast (3)irregular borders (4)strip construction (5)approximate measurement (6)integration of 'accidentals' (just seeing what goes together-putting things together that please you (7)common use of squares, rectangles and half-squares.(8) piecing almost exclusively from scraps. Making something useful and pretty from 'nothing'.
In keeping with the book title he sites various examples that indicate intentional design even in pieces that appear to be randomly set. Studying the work of one quiltmaker you may see mastery in precision work showing her capable of such precision where in another she does not match seams or follow 'rules' of either structure, color or contrast.
I am interested in doing more research on this type of 'improv' quilt within the broader quilting communities. My aunt, a white woman raised in a rural community but later living in a big city, made quilts in a similar manner.
A quote at the end about hanging clothes on the line especially speaks to aesthetic inclination and intent,"When I do the laundry...I never randomly pull something out of the machine...a particular shade of emerald green can look very nice next to a rich magenta. I carefully hang the pieces into a colorful wavelength of energy."
September 29, 2017
I've wanted to read this for 3 years, and finally decided to borrow it on inter-library loan. An odd coincidence- a story about Eli Leon's quilt collection going on sale to pay for his care! It is hoped that an institution will buy the African American quilt collection.
This book was so fabulous that I bought a used copy on Amazon. It tells about the quilters and analyzes how African patterns for fabric were brought to American in the minds of the slaves, and how you can see the designs and techniques in various quilts. Some of the quilters talked about how they feel about quilting- oh, they are so right!
Loved it!
I got interested in this because of Sherri Lynn Wood' Improv Handbook. She references this book with some of her techniques.
This book was so fabulous that I bought a used copy on Amazon. It tells about the quilters and analyzes how African patterns for fabric were brought to American in the minds of the slaves, and how you can see the designs and techniques in various quilts. Some of the quilters talked about how they feel about quilting- oh, they are so right!
Loved it!
I got interested in this because of Sherri Lynn Wood' Improv Handbook. She references this book with some of her techniques.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews