Gee’s Bend: The Architecture of the Quilt

As many of you know, Cynthia is a fan of the art of quilting. We have several handmade quilts she has lovingly stitched together and she is, even now, mapping out her next project.

A few weeks back I got an invitation to the media preview for the Gee´s Bend: The Architecture of the Quilt exhibit. This invitation came in via my contact e-mail for the Houston Chronicle.

From the web site:

Gee´s Bend: The Architecture of the Quilt examines the resurgence of interest in quilting in the Gee´s Bend community and documents the development of key traditional quilt patterns””housetop, courthouse steps, flying geese, and strip quilting through the presentation of outstanding examples created from the 1930s into the twenty-first century.

We had just watched the PBS special on these quilts a few weeks back so I knew EXACTLY what this was.

Sensing an opportunity to take Cynthia to something quite special I replied to the invitation. I was very frank about the fact that I would not be able to promote the show in my capacity as the Helpline columnist for the Houston Chronicle but did indicate my desire to attend. The event organizer replied that they would be happy for us to be there and confirmed our RSVP.

It was a wonderful event and Cynthia and I both got some great pictures and an opportunity to chat with many of the women who created these fabulous quilts.


Louisiana P. and Mary Lee Bendolph – Artists


Mary Lee shares a wonderful quilting anecdote with Cynthia.

The show runs June 4 – September 4, 2006 at the Audrey Jones Beck Building of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

Spread the word!

More pics from today’s media opening available here

Art Car Parade 2006

Cynthia and Jay at the Art Car Parade

Early Saturday Cynthia and I headed into town to wander amongst the art cars as they got into position for the parade. This is the best way to see the cars. You can walk up to them and talk with the artist and it’s all before the full heat of the day. Plus you see them at your pace rather than waiting for a few hundred cars to slooooooooooowly drive past you.

I didn’t shoot all that many pics of the parade but the few I did are available HERE

Art Car Ball 2006

Another art car weekend has come and gone.
While I did not participate in all of the weekend activities I did take time to go to the Art Car Ball which is one of the most unusual parties of the year.

It’s a celebration of the artists and their works. This year’s theme was Ole Time Revival. The theme tends to be more of a suggestion than anything else. Some people participate but for the most part people just do what they want. Seeing Tom dressed as a TV minister, complete with TV, was probably my favorite.

The music was not so great this year but I did have the opportunity to catch up with some old friends and the weather was spectacular for being outside with the cars.

Fire Flaming Zebras Dragon Car Ice Chainsaw

Bird-tacular II

Ricky and Lucy have been raising two babies in the yard. They have taken to escorting them in close to the feeders in an attempt to teach them how to feed on their own.

For now Ricky has been flying to the feeder and then to a nearby tree where the infant awaits hungrily. Every now and then the infant attempts to land on the feeder but has not been successful that we have seen.

Of course the whole family is quite skittish and getting a good shot is difficult as I am having to shoot out of the back window and use the highest digital zoom settings on my camera.

Ricky feeds the baby Ricky feeds the baby

We are also seeing some juvenile House Finches and many young sparrows as well.

Yesterday as we were in the yard we noticed a huge Swallowtail butterfly swooping and diving in the yard. Photographic evidence later revealed she was probably laying eggs on our plants.

Swallowtail

Blowing off some steam

Pucker up!

Prior to the announcement of the buyout I had made plans to see Southern Culture on the Skids at the Continental Club on Thursday. This band is hard to describe but imagine a trailer park version of the B-52’s and you come close. I make it a point to see them each year when they pass through town and they never disappoint.

As it turned out, the evening was a great chance to unwind and de-stress quite a bit. Plenty of good people in attendance and some I had not seen in a long time.

The show was as good and better than I had hoped.

SCOTS

More pics of the show in the gallery

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