SEAMSIDE: Exploring the Inner Work of Textiles

In our last SEAMSIDE conversation on Episode 5, quilt historian Jess Bailey aka @publiclibraryquilts and I discussed the role of storytelling in art history and the power of visual images to convey narratives, experience of feeling seen and recognized through images, and we talked about why Jess would rather her quilts be considered sturdy rather than soft.We catch up now a little over a year later to share our favorite quilt book recommendations, personal stories from recent quilting bees, and I share a vulnerable moment that Jess indirectly helped me understand one of my own blind spots in regards to the improv quilts of Gee’s Bend.⤷ Subscribe to SEAMSIDE to get a notification when a new episode posts⤷ Get your free trial to the THE QUILTY NOOKSHOWNOTES OF THE GODS (thank you, Jess)You can see the Ascott Martyrs Quilt if you visit the People's History Museum in Manchester or you can learn more about the Martyrs story and early union history through this resource. Big thanks to Fi Ashley at Gresshenhall for amplifying material culture histories of unions and first telling PLQ about the Ascott Quilt.Zak shared his copy of the standby of any well-stocked quilt library: A Communion of the Spirits: African-American Quilters, Preservers, and Their Stories by Roland L. Freeman. Remember, if you can't find an out of print quilt history book, its always worth checking Worldcat - a search engine that aggregates the world's library collections!Two must read quilt history books of 2023: Out this June from University of Washington Press, Professor Lisa Gail Collins' Stitching Love and Loss: the story of a Gee's Bend Quilt promises to encompass the power and role of quilts across a human life. Professor Janneken Smucker's A New Deal for Quilts will be published by the International Quilt Museum in October. Jess has had the pleasure of reading an advanced copy and everyone needs to see the stunningly beautiful early 20th century photographs of quilts in this book. You can preorder it at the link above.Jess & Zak are a Sharbreon fan club in this episode! If you'd like to read Dr. Sharbreon Plummer's Diasporic Threads published by Common Threads Press, you can find it here. Jess & Sharbreon have some projects up their sleeve, in the meantime explore Sharbreon's quilt work.You can watch Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi’s lecture at the International Quilt Museum here (and maybe spot Zak in the front row!)Oh and did Jess mention an upcoming quilt fundraiser & raffle? Stay tuned for more from Jess & her collaborator Ashley J. May (@grassrootsmorning) as they prepare for the Kin Folk Library Quilt fundraiser funding a library of children's books amplifying the rich histories of Black feminist writers and Lil' Free Bird story times at the Salt Eaters and other bookshops.

Stephanie (website, Instagram) and I dream up a quilt that ① provides financial abundance gremlin-style, and ② is made from cash money, namely Canadian looniesWant to be on the show? Call the CRAZY QUILT HOTLINE open 24/7 at (828) 278-8211‬ and leave me a message anytime of day or night⤷ Get your free trial to the THE QUILTY NOOK

As an a Southern expat living in a northern state, it’s often nice to connect with somebody from home. We see things about our roots now that perhaps we didn’t when we were growing up immersed in the culture, and how we make sense of all that, for me and Clare at least, requires the help of textiles.Clare Hu was born in Atlanta to parents who’d immigrated from China in the 1990s. Clare now lives in Brooklyn, and in this conversation we explore:① the role movement and immigration can play in an artist’s work② how we can build bridges to the past no matter where we find ourselves in the present③ how we can take up space in this world and exercise our powerYou can learn more about Clare on their website and Instagram⤷ Get your free trial to the THE QUILTY NOOK⤷ Theme music: Roll Jordan Roll by the Joy Drops⤷ Subscribe to SEAMSIDE and you’ll get a note as soon as a podcast posts

Ashelyn (website, Instagram, podcast) and me dream up a quilt that 1) made out of sheet metal and old road signs, and 2) is meant to be displayed on a highway overpassWant to be on the show? Call the CRAZY QUILT HOTLINE open 24/7 at (828) 278-8211‬ and leave me a message anytime of day or night⤷ Get your free trial to the THE QUILTY NOOK

Sylvan and I sit down a year later to catch up on where their work has taken them since we last talked. In that conversation on Episode 7 we talked about their work with Gays Against Guns, and at the time of that recording, we didn't know that the shooting at the supermarket in Buffalo was just a few days away. Sylvan also shares some hard one wisdom from years of activism, and their insights are both a balm and encouragement for anyone who seeks to make this world a better place through their work.⤷ Subscribe to SEAMSIDE to get a notification when a new episode posts⤷ Get your free trial to the THE QUILTY NOOK

Marlee Grace, a writer, dancer, and quilter based in rural Michigan, shares their journey of self-identification as non-binary and how it shapes their creative expression. They discuss feeling like an outsider in the quilting world and advocate for inclusivity in quilting education. Marlee reflects on the emotional and historical significance of quilts, the importance of personal connections, and the therapeutic power of vibrant colors in their work. They emphasize creating art for personal fulfillment rather than external validation.

Udita (website and @uditau) and me dream up a quilt that 1) has a snake resting on a branch, and 2) is also a stained-glass windowCall the CRAZY QUILT HOTLINE open 24/7 at (828) 278-8211‬ and leave me a message anytime of day or night⤷ Get your free trial to the THE QUILTY NOOK

In this conversation with quilter Judy Martin, we explore: ① the tole time plays in our work② how we can meet ourselves in our materials③ how our creative arc shifts over timeYou can learn more about Judy on her website and instagram.⤷ Get your free trial to the THE QUILTY NOOK⤷ Theme music: Roll Jordan Roll by the Joy Drops

Hannah (@_hagtime and @ragfairtextiles) and I dream up a quilt that will 1) help you survive a trip over Niagara Falls, and 2) is inspired by a goldfishWant to be on the show? All contestants are asked to call the CRAZY QUILT HOTLINE open 24/7 and leave me a voicemail (and don't worry, it won't actually ring my phone so call anytime. The number to call is >>> (828) 278-8211‬

Victoria Gertenbach and I sit down a year later to catch up on where her work has taken her since we last talked. Have you heard our original conversation? You can listen to it hereSupport SEAMSIDE alum Lou Gardiner who been re-diagnosed recently with cancer. You can find her Gofundme page here.