Digital Snapshots

Dublin Core

Title

Quilt, "The Hands That Picked the Cotton, Now Help Pick Presidents"; December 2008

Object Name

Needlework--Quilt

Label

This original quilt, entitled "The Hands That Picked the Cotton, Now Help Pick Presidents", was made by Geraldine Nash (b. 1952) in 2008 in Port Gibson, Claiborne County, Mississippi. As a child, Geraldine Nash was more interested in sewing than quilting. She regularly took in sewing projects from her friends and family. In 1988, she joined the staff of Mississippi Cultural Crossroads and began to learn the art of quilting. Nash was taught by master-quilter Hystercine Rankin, and she soon became an active member of the Crossroads Quilters, winning top awards for her work. In 2008, Nash was asked by the renowned photographer and folklorist Roland L. Freeman to create a quilt for his exhibition "Quilts for Obama: An Exhibit Celebrating the Inauguration of Our 44th President", which was on display at the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. from January through July of 2009. While creating the quilt, Nash was inspired by the Civil Rights slogan made popular by Charles Evers: "Hands that picked cotton can now pick the mayor." She entitled her quilt "The Hands That Picked the Cotton, Now Help Pick Presidents" and brought the design to life with bold colors and the addition of real cotton bolls. Nash's quilt was one of 60 interpretive quilts in the exhibition.

Detailed Description

From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History's Historic Objects Collection. A communication textile (cotton and polyester) artifact demonstrating needlework artistry. Features a border consisting of various color and patterned fabrics arranged in diagonal stripes. There is a central scene with a black border. In the scene's background is a sky made with tie-dye patterned blue and white cloth, a house, and two trees with laundry strung between them. There is a green and brown field with two Black figures carrying bags, reaching into cotton plants.

Creator

Nash, Geraldine (1952-)

Date

2008-12

Catalog Number

2016.35.1

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT - EDUCATIONAL USE PERMITTED; http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/

Credit: Courtesy of the Mississippi Department of Archives & History