The time-honored art of quilting, you may be surprised to learn, supports an industry worth 3 billion dollars in the United States. A practice many associate with traditionalism, home and history, the craft still inspires countless new quilters in every generation, along with new techniques and artistic approaches.
Timberhouse Films recently released a new short documentary, “Stitch,” looking into the lives of contemporary Black American quilters, including O.V. Brantley, founder of the Atlanta Quilt Festival.
Brantley and “Stitch” director Dr. Arshley Emile recently joined “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes to discuss the documentary and festival.
Brantley got her own start in quilting while she served as the Fulton County DA, using the practice as a way to connect with her family roots and blow off the steam she accumulated while on the job.
She began to hang quilts in the conference rooms of the Fulton County Attorney’s Office, banking on them as neutral conversation starters that helped bring down the stress levels in the room. The documentary and Atlanta Quilt Festival both tackle quilting as a way of remembering the past, particularly the Civil Rights era in the US.
