While on our little get a way this week. Tom and I stopped by at the Ground Zero Katrina Musuem in Waveland Ms. It was only about ten miles from where we stayed and after seeing all the empty lots we felt like we wanted to know more. It's not a big museum but just a little museum the locals put together to remember what happened. It contained the usually things like the water line in the building showing how how much water had surged in from the hurricane. But, I was surprised that above that water line were little quilts. Nothing was said of them on our tour, but Tom asked about them.
They were made by a Canadian quilter, Solveig Wells,who had a home in the area. She came down after the hurricane to find all her fabric and home gone. I can't imagine what that would be like. Her story is told here. Her story of recovery is pretty amazing. After she passed, her husband donated the 55 little quilts to the museum.
I was told she made all of these little quilts in 18 months. Being a quilter myself, I can understand the need to stitch and recovery can take many forms for different people. I keep thinking about the day she found a bit of her fabric poking thru the sand at the beach. A bit of hope! Another bit of proof of that quilts are art, a way for Mrs Wells to express her feelings!
They were made by a Canadian quilter, Solveig Wells,who had a home in the area. She came down after the hurricane to find all her fabric and home gone. I can't imagine what that would be like. Her story is told here. Her story of recovery is pretty amazing. After she passed, her husband donated the 55 little quilts to the museum.
I was told she made all of these little quilts in 18 months. Being a quilter myself, I can understand the need to stitch and recovery can take many forms for different people. I keep thinking about the day she found a bit of her fabric poking thru the sand at the beach. A bit of hope! Another bit of proof of that quilts are art, a way for Mrs Wells to express her feelings!
Thank you for sharing these quilts. Very expressive, what a story she had to tell.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised by the story enough that I wanted to share it. It had to be hard to see all the devastation in the area. They are still trying to recover.
Deleteisn't that a nice find to see these hanging in a museum
ReplyDeleteYes, really am glad we stopped in. So glad her husband thought to donate them to the musuem
DeleteI am so glad that she did find those bits of fabric. I imagine that it was like finding bits of herself that had been lost in the disaster.
ReplyDeleteExactly, and I can understand her need to stitch!
DeleteWow. What an amazing story. And clearly a gifted quilter, to be able to convey events and emotions in cloth like that. What a treasure those little quilts are! Thank you for sharing this, Carla.
ReplyDeleteYour welcome! So glad we decided to go to the musuem!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the story. How interesting.
ReplyDeleteAmazing story and display. Thanks for sharing and the link.
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