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In February 2023 we added to our collection of chancel liturgical paraments to help us celebrate Black History Month.

PULPIT & LECTERN

The pulpit and lectern paraments were made from fabrics that represent four different African cloths: Ankara, Kittenge, Kente, and Bogolan Mud.

• Ankara cloth is 100% cotton and was historically sourced from Female owned small businesses in West Africa. In East Africa this cloth was called Kittenge cloth. In both cases, the fabric basically tells stories, may have hidden meanings, and the colors are very vibrant. The method of printing these fabrics is called the Dutch Wax Process, and dates from the mid-1800s.
• Bogolan Mud Cloth is made exclusively by men. The process starts by weaving handwoven fabric and is usually off-white in color. The fabric is dyed with fermented mud and plant dyes. Colors are yellow with black, red, and brown.
• Kente cloth, which is Ghana’s National fabric, is also a woven fabric, usually with very bold colors that carry specific meaning:

gold = status/serenity
silver = moon
yellow = fertility
green = renewal
blue = peace/harmony
red = passion
black = union with ancestors

COMMUNION TABLE – Adaptation of a Gee’s Bend Quilt

The quilters from Gee’s Bend were located near a geographically isolated community southeast of Selma, Alabama. The Resident’s ancestors worked the cotton plantations, first as slaves. Then for several generations, as tenant farmers living in log cabins that they built themselves. The Gee’s Bend Quilters are internationally known. Historically, during the 1960s, Gee’s Bend played an important role in the Civil Rights movement. MLK Jr. came to Gee’s Bend to preach on the eve of his march in Selma, and mules from Gee’s Bend pulled his casket after his death.

From the Hill Quilters:

Our quilt was based on a quilt made in 1966 by Sadie Bell Nelson (1936-1981), a Gee’s Bend quilter. Sadie’s original quilt is hand-pieced and measures 85” x 77”. It is a phenomenal piece of work! It was humbling to plan this adaptation to share with you. A big thank you goes to Krystina Carver, who assisted her mother, AHCC member Kay Carver, to make an adaptation of this quilt. Our quilt has been adjusted to fit the communion table. There were several changes that had to happen as most of the fabrics that Sadie used are not available. Kay chose modern 100% cotton fabrics. It is pieced with 100% cotton thread. Fabrics were chosen that follow as much as possible to Sadie’s intent. The middle of the quilt shows the Monkey Wrench quilt block. There are several variations of this block. It is thought that if there was quilt or a block shown, it meant that tools and belongings were being gathered for a long hazardous trip.

SILHOUETTE – Harriet Tubman

Kay Carver also wanted to do a silhouette piece. At the suggestion of Carol Vinick, Harriet Tubman was chosen. Carol Vinick provided a small silhouette drawing that we were able to enlarge.

We would like to thank the Hill Quilters and AHCC Music and Arts for their support. Also, Carol Vinick (Quilt Artist), Africka Hinds, and Gwen Lewis, who graciously provided her books for Kay Carver to study and gifted Kay a collection of postcards of “The Quilts of Gee’s Bend.”