QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-5009

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Women of Color Quilters Network; Great Lakes African American Quilters Network

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

06.0098

Object label:

Tribute to Nelson Mandela
Hilda Freeman Vest
Detroit, Michigan
1990
Cotton with polyester filling
49" x 51"
Collection of the artist

Essay:

“Fascinated by African fabrics since discovering the joys of quilting, I was auditioning scraps of the brillliant colors when news of Nelson Mandela's release from prison flooded the air waves. How timely, I decided, it would be to fashion the King's X pattern I had already chosen into a humble "monument" dedicated to his survival after twenty eight years as a political prisoner. African symbols were incorporated into the quilting and I proudly embroidered "MANDELA FREED 2-11-90.”

Vest purchased the scraps of fabric used in this quilt from a vendor at the African World Festival. “I gave him $30 and weeks later, he must have cleaned out his studio because he sent me a box of African scraps which included pieces of garments, such as sleeves, etc.”

This quilt has appeared in exhibitions at the Museum of African History in Detroit (1995); Juneteenth Celebration in Oberlin, Ohio; Detroit Public Library (2005); Greenfield Village, Dearborn; and in 1996, took a second place ribbon at the Senior Olympics, Detroit Parks and Recreation.

Quilt's title:

Tribute to Nelson Mandela

Subject of the quilt:

Nelson Mandela

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

King's Cross, Hide and Seek

Brackman # or other source & #:

1290

Quilt top made by:

Vest, Hilda Freeman

Quilted by:

Vest, Hilda Freeman

If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?

Made the quilt

Where the quilt was made, city:

Detroit

Where the quilt was made, county:

Wayne

Where the quilt was made, state:

Michigan (MI)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Time period:

1976-1999

When was the quilt started?

1989

When was the quilt finished?

1990

Why was the quilt made?

Art or personal expression; Commemorative

Details about why the quilt was made:

Nelson Mandela being freed from prison

Quilt is presently used as:

Artwork/wall hanging

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's city:

Detroit

Quiltmaker's county:

Wayne

Quiltmaker's state:

Michigan (MI)

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Freeman

Quiltmaker's birth date:

6/5/1933

In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker live?

Urban

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

African American

Quiltmaker's educational background:

B.S. in Education from Wayne State University, Freshman year at Michigan State

Quiltmaker's religious affiliation:

Protestant

Quiltmaker's occupation:

Elementary teacher, Detroit Public Schools, retired

Quiltmaker's father's name:

Freeman, Pharr Cyral

Quiltmaker's mother's name:

Freeman, Blanche Heard

Quiltmaker's mother's ethnic/tribal background:

African American

Quiltmaker's marriage date(s):

7/12/1953

Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and /or partner's/partners' name(s):

Vest, Donald S.

Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' occupation:

Executive at Ford Motor Company

Number of children:

3

How many of the quiltmaker's children were girls?

1

How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?

2

How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

From Class

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Age 50 or over

Estimated number of quilts made by this quiltmaker:

5-20 quilts

Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?

no

Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting?

no

Does/did the quiltmaker belong to a group? Name of the group?

Great Lakes African American Quilter's Network

What are the main activities of the group?

Group projects, community projects, share info and ideas.

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

49"

How long is the quilt?

51"

Shape of edge:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Beige or Tan; Black; Purple; Turquoise; Yellow

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Quilt's condition:

Good/moderate use

Damage:

Fading

Type of inscription:

Date; Message

What is inscribed on the quilt?

hvf-Mandela Freed 1980

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

1980

Method used to make the inscription:

Embroidery

Location of inscription:

on border

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Number of quilt blocks:

9

Size of quilt blocks:

11" x 11"

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Separated by plain sashing

Sashing width:

2"

What is the shape of the quilt blocks?

Same block throughout

Number of different block patterns used in the quilt:

1

Number of borders:

1

Describe the borders:

7" black solid hand quilted with African symbols

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Solid/plain; Other

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

African prints

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Can you feel or see paper on the quilt that was used as a construction aid?

no

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Embellishments used:

Silk thread

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

2

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

How is the binding made?

Straight grain

What is the width of the binding (measure on the top only)?

half inch - one inch

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Polyester

How thick is the quilt?

Medium (3/16?)

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

6

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:

6

Can you see any knots on the front or back of the quilt?

no

Quilting designs used, decorative motifs:

Cables

Describe the quilting designs used:

African bird in each corner

Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:

I finished the quilt in 1990 when Nelson Mandela was freed from prison, so I dedicated it to that event. The quilt is made from fabric I purchased from a vendor at the African World Festival. He was selling African clothing. I asked if he would sell me his scraps. I gave him $30 and weeks later, he must have cleaned out his studio because he sent me a box of African scraps which included pieces of garments, such as sleeves, etc. Fascinated by African fabrics since discovering the joys of quilting, I was auditioning scraps of the brillliant colors when news of Nelson Mandela's release from prison flooded the air waves. How timely, I decided, it would be to fashion the King's X pattern I had already chosen into a humble "monument" dedicated to his survival after twenty eight years as a political prisoner. African symbols were incorporated into the quilting and I proudly embroidered "MANDELA FREED 2-11-90." Hilda Vest

Where did the maker get their materials?

Purchased new

Describe the sources of the quilt's materials:

The quilt is made from fabric I purchased from a vendor at the African World Festival. He was selling African clothing. I asked if he would sell me his scraps. I gave him $30 and weeks later, he must have cleaned out his studio because he sent me a box of

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Traditional pattern variation

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

Museum of African Amer. Museum, 1995 Detroit Public Library 2005 Greenfield Village and Juneteenth Celebration in Oberlin, OH Quilts and Human Rights, Michigan State University Museum, January 15 - August 24, 2008

Contests entered:

Second place ribbon in Detroit Parks and Red. Senior Olympics, 1996 Detroit Public Library 2005

Person filling out this form is:

Quiltmaker

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's name:

Hilda Vest

Quilt owner's city:

Detroit

Quilt owner's county:

Wayne

Quilt owner's state:

Michigan (MI)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Made by owner

How did the quiltmaker participate in the creation of the quilt?

Made entire quilt

The quilt was made to be used for:

Artwork/wall hanging

Describe any favorite patterns, tools, etc. used by the quiltmaker:

Rotary cutter

Who photographed this quilt?

Pearl Yee Wong

Copyright holder:

Michigan State University Museum