How a Group of Women in This Small Alabama Town Perfected the Art of Quilting | Op-Docs

This week we bring you “While I Yet Live,” Maris Curran’s beautiful, immersive film about a group of master quilters in the small town of Gee’s Bend, Ala. Curran paints a tender portrait of a tightly-bound community of African-American women and how they integrate craft, faith and family into their art. The results are spectacular.

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[debralathan]

I have had the pleasure to attend the Gee’s Bend Quilting Retreat in Raymond, Mississippi for the past two years. What a privilege to be in the presence of Mary Ann Pettway and China Pettway. Spending time with these two kind souls and listening to them sing and tell their story is priceless.

[babery]

"We're gonna leave this all behind one day. It's not ours in the beginning; we're just only borrowing it, for the time we are here." thats so profound and beautiful.

[GnarlsBarkley]

My ancestors are from this region of Alabama. I inherited 5 Quilts from my grandmother and a few date back to the late 19th century.

[diane]

These dear women deserve all the recognition and respect in the world. 💐

[amteo]

It seems so unfair that these ladies were not rewarded for their efforts.
Such beautiful quilts made with such love and passion.The people who took the quilts and would have recieved a generous sum of money should be ashamed of themselves.
These ladies dont have much but are so content and find their strength from the lord our god.
What i also admire is that every scrap of material isnt wasted and just look at the results. So beautiful.
God bless these ladies.

[jackiecarter]

I loved this film. I loved the women. I loved their quilts . I loved the peace and wisdom.

[criticaloptimist]

I’m so blessed having multiple quilts my grandma made me. I tear up just thinking about the love from her that I get to wrap myself in even ten years after she’s gone.

[stylecollective-qtum]

It is absolutely unconscionable that some slick art dealer has absconded with these elderly women's literal life work, and has not contacted them or paid them a dime. The public wants to know who took these women's quilts without compensating them?

[GlynisSakowicz]

I'm an old woman now, but I learned a craft as many did of my age, at the feet of my grandmother and her sisters, on a Kansas porch during many, many summer evenings. My grandmother and her sisters (usually between 2 and 5 of the 7 sisters) would meet on my grandma's porch after a warm day, and they'd knit, argue, laugh, talk and teach me without ever actually giving me any lessons. I'd sit there, with these hand made knitting needles my great Uncle Elijah had made me, and I'd try to imitate their movements. Now and then one of them would glance down with a smile, "Oh here, honey... like this... see? That will keep the yarn taut but not tight, so the stitches stay even... now where was I..." I soaked it in during those evenings, like a dry little sponge. I don't remember NOT knitting really. I have just done it all my life, and though I've never been truly good at it, because its hard to learn that skill as a leftie when everyone around you uses their right hand, but I can turn out a passable sweater, and baby blankets when needed... I wonder how many of us who have skills that create things, have those groups of our ancestors gathered round us, nodding approvingly as we create...

[shoshannafachima]

Shame on the art dealers for not paying these gifted artists the full payment.these women are so pure of mind and soul

[uncrnsprklfrts]

My grandmother, my great grandmother, and I all quilt. These are beautiful quilts made with love and a respect for past and present traditions and faith. Beautiful and stunning. I would be honored to quilt with such amazing people.

[jebbie]

*As a native born & bred Alabamian I can confidently say that the women of Gees Bend & their beautiful quilt work is known, loved & respected far & wide.* *I could sit & watch these Aunt's quilt & listen to them sing & tell stories for days.* *And anyone who knows anything about about women such as these & white people & the relationships between the two can tell you that the women are so loving, caring & welcoming to any/every body. They let us white children call them Aunt So & So. I myself lived in the same neighborhood as a black woman named Bessie. Aunt Bessie always had something to eat & drink for all the neighborhood kids. And if we did anything bad Aunt Bessie would tear our hides up too & no parent ever said a word. They knew if Aunt Bessie whooped us that we had deserved it. I loved my Aunt Bessie & miss her dearly.* ❤️

[divinesoulsista]

Thank you for this . This is our heritage, our lineage

[louettesommers]

I so admire these women. Just watching them quilting and singing together blesses my heart.

[impishishere]

This is the most poetic thing I've ever seen. I am in awe.

[marydonovan]

Their life is simple, and their sense of community is what makes them feel secure. What patience they have, and “I don’t have to be perfect” says it all.

[carolynratliff]

I have been making quilts for the last 20 years and share with my precious friends…..they don’t know how much WORK I PUT IN EACH ONE….they send me pictures of my quilts the put in their DOG HOUSES AND CRATES…..IT BREAKS MY HEART…..YOURS ARE SO PRETTY AND I COULD LISTEN TO YOU SING FOR EVER…..hugs carolyn from Columbus Georgia 😊

[crystalgrose]

There’s something so comforting about watching quilting, especially when the elder women would quilt - mothers and grandmothers, and great-grandmothers, and great-aunts ♥️🥰🌷,

[aurasoular]

this documentary was so relaxing it almost put me to sleep if i had let it lol - the asmr, the ladies calm voices, and soft camera scenes just amazing

[wsam]

My daughter actually quilts and has been doing that for many years. She received my Great Grandmother's quilt that was given to me (Great was born in 1896). My Great Grandmother and Grandmother quilted together and she has that quilt as well. She learned how to quilt based on those quilts from the grandmothers! Awesome history...