QUILTERS VIA QUILTS

Charleston Old Market where

Mrs. Ozella Williams sold quilts.

My quilts generated the interest in quilts that resulted in many snatches of conversation with Miss Ozella, the subject of Hidden in Plain View: The Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad by Jacqueline Tobin and Dr. Raymond Dobard. Miss Ozella stated that the information that she possessed had been orally passed down to her by her ancestors. Much of the national attention to the book was based on the desire for written documentation as verification of facts. It cannot be forgotten or overlooked that, for many years, teaching African-Americans to read and write was unlawful. Tobin acknowledges that this is not THE African-American quilt code story. It is an African-American family's quilt code story.

For many years, I have heard stories from the GULLAH community about spirituals and quilts being used by the enslaved to outwit their masters. I cannot personally attest to the veracity of those stories or to those told to and by Mrs. Ozella Williams. I do know that for many years, with no wish to profit monetarily, she shared them with many visitors to the Old Market.

Most importantly, my quilts have led me to many fascinating, creative people! I've learned that quilters are always interested in meeting each other , so I've developed "friendships" via e-mail, introductions by other quilters,attendance at workshops, exhibitions, and meetings. A group of us took flights from Ohio, Missouri, Connecticut, New York, and South Carolina to Louisville, Kentucky to have private lessons with quilt artist, Penny Sisto, (lives just across state line in Indiana) and to spend some fun time together. Sisto, who creates the most incredible faces, shared her knowledge with us (left to right-Penny,Joann Thompson,Ed Johnetta Miller,Anna Arzu Titus,Marie Wilson, Carolyn Mazloomi, Kyra Hicks [Marlene was photographer]) in the tranquil setting of her log cabin home/studio for a weekend. Since I spoke to the Quilt Guild in Charlotte, North Carolina, Gloria Brown has become a constant e-mail pal who sends photos. Via e-mail, telephone, trips to see exhibitions or to spend time with artists whose work we enjoy, some will forever be a part of my life. Among them are: mother/daughter cousins of mine, Doretha (MI) and Valeria (IL) Hunter with whom I had traditionally communicated only at funerals, weddings, and other family gatherings; quilter, lecturer, author, founder/coordinator of Women of Color Quilter's Network, Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi(OH); quilt historian,author,Quilters Hall of Fame honoree, Cuesta Benberry (MO); photojournalist, quilt collector/designer, author, Roland Freeman(DC); quilters Peggie Hartwell(NY); Ed Johnetta Miller(CN); Gwen Magee(MS); Kyra Hicks(VA); and Joann Thompson(SC).