Cover of Stories in the Seams: A People's History of Black Quilts and Their Makers by Sharbreon Plummer

Stories in the Seams: A People's History of Black Quilts and Their Makers

By Sharbreon Plummer

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Description

A sweeping survey of Black quiltmaking in America with stunning archival photographs of quilters and quilting bees, as well as full-page reproductions of both significant historical quilts and bold contemporary creations.

This compelling volume gives Black quilting traditions long-overdue attention, highlighting the artistry, innovation, and community solidarity of quilters from the 1700s through today. The deeply researched text of scholar and artist Dr. Sharbreon Plummer explores quilts as an archive of collective and personal memory, delves into methods of Black quiltmaking--both distinctive and endlessly diverse--and demonstrates the power of quilts and quilting as medicine against grief and oppression.

  • This book evokes the craftsmanship and tactile beauty of quilts with stunning archival and full-color photos.
  • Discover the stories of scores of individual creators throughout history, including self-taught seamstresses, community organizers, and archivists of everyday life.
  • Delve deeper into the stories behind world-renowned artists, past and present, like Bisa Butler, Faith Ringgold, and the Quilters of Gee's Bend.
  • Each profile illuminates the reasons behind the quilts: to honor heritage, express political beliefs, process grief, find peace, or simply create beauty.
Stories in the Seams celebrates the act of sewing in solitude or in community, as resistance or as rest. Whether you're a veteran quilter, a textile arts appreciator, or a beginner exploring the art form, this is an informative, inspiring, and indispensable resource.

JOIN THE QUILTING MOMENT: Whether you've been wowed by major museum exhibitions of textile arts, just joined a local quilting circle, or are simply a fan of patchwork styles and nostalgic Americana aesthetics, now is the perfect time to enrich your knowledge of quilt history.

UNTOLD HISTORY: This book shares the often-ignored stories of self-taught artists, independent women creators, intergenerational collaborations, and more. From artists who created under enslavement in the early 1800s to sewing cooperatives formed in the 1960s, Dr. Plummer traces the story of quilts through a lens of personal and communal healing.

A VIBRANT AND THRIVING CREATIVE TRADITION: Black quiltmaking isn't limited to one style or frozen in the past. This book highlights the kaleidoscopic variety and continual innovation that define this art form.

Perfect for:

  • Quilters, sewists, and other crafters, makers, and collectors
  • Art history buffs and readers of artist biographies
  • Anyone interested in Black culture, history, and art
  • Professional artists and designers, art students, and researchers
  • Creatives interested in the intersection of art and activism

ISBN-13

9781797231570

Publisher

Chronicle Books

Page Count

208 pages

Product Dimensions

8.9 x 7.4 x 0.9 in
Officially Licensed
Ethically Made In Certified Factories

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Tel: (617) 499-2000

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Harvard COOP

9 Brattle Street,
Cambridge, MA 02138

Tel (617) 499-2000


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Harvard Business School COOP

Spangler Center,
117 Western Ave,

Boston, MA 02163


Tel (617) 499-3248


Monday – Friday 
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Saturday - Sunday

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Harvard Law School COOP

1595 Massachusetts
Avenue,
Cambridge, MA 02138


Tel (617) 499-3255


Monday – Friday 
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Saturday 11am – 5pm

Sunday Closed

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The COOP Concept Store

40 Western Ave, Boston, MA 02134

Monday - Saturday 10am - 6pm

Sunday 10am - 3pm

Ground floor of The Atlas Hotel, across from Harvard Business School

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Harvard Medical School COOP

Countway Library,
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Boston, MA 02115

Tel (617) 499-3300

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