Mary Margaret Pettway - Gee's Bend Quilters and the Road to Paradise

Born and raised in Gee’s Bend, Alabama, Mary Margaret is a third-generation quilter. She says that it didn’t matter if you were a boy or a girl: If your mother was a quilter you were going to learn how to quilt. What they did was a way of life and a necessity. They didn’t know what they were doing would be considered art. All that changed in the late 1990s and early 2000s when a man by the name of William Arnett came and bought quilts from everyone in town.

It is because of Arnett and the Souls Grown Deep Foundation, which he founded, that the quilts of Gee’s Bend are now in museums. (4:00 – 7:18) A trustee of Souls Grown Deep since 2017, Mary Margaret spearheaded efforts to locate living Gees Bend quilters with works in the collection or their heirs to help them get representation for the copyrights through a partnership with the Artists Rights Society.

“I would rather sew than do anything,” says Mary Margaret, “and making quilts is my favorite thing to create.” One of her favorite Gee’s Bend quilts is hanging in the High Museum of Art in Alabama and was the inspiration for the skirt worn by First Lady Michelle Obama in her official portrait. (14:47-16:40)

Mary Margaret continues to advocate for the citizens of Gee’s Bend. She was instrumental in establishing the Gee’s Bend Resource Center and is dedicated to helping quilters get access to the marketplace. She tells them, “Show the world what you can do. It’s one thing to say yes, I can quilt. Yes, I can sew. But it’s another to show me.” (17:55-20:22)

Quilting America, a recent article in the Wall Street Journal showcases the rich history of quilting and talks about a new exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. This exhibit features pieces from Gee’s Bend quilters.

A teacher at the Black Belt Treasures Cultural Arts Center, Mary Margaret loves what she does. Whether she’s teaching children how to sew an apron or a pillow, or teaching women how to sew or hand quilt, she takes them through the process, step by step. Her commitment to her craft and her community is inspiring. According to her, “Gee’s Bend is a 17- or 19-mile ride from Alberta down a road that looks like it leads to nowhere, when actually it leads to paradise.” (23:39-24:20)

After listening to our candid conversation about life, quilting, and the power of community, you’ll likely want to connect with Mary Margaret to learn more. You can reach her at marymargaretpettway@gmail.com

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