QUILT INDEX RECORD
12-8-6703
Who documented this quilt?
Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Women of Color Quilters Network; Quilts and Human Rights; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project
Where are the records for this quilt housed?
Michigan State University Museum
Michigan Quilt Project Number:
15.0071
If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:
2014:55.43
Essay:
Artist Statement about work:
The poem "We Wear the Mask" was always special to me because as African Americans, we have worn many masks to survive at times and other time to affect change in the African American condition in this world. This quilt gives honor to Paul Lawrence Dunbar. The masks are deliberately set off-centered because that is how our people have to live - fighting to be centered.
Quilt's title:
We Wear the Mask
Subject of the quilt:
Paul Lawrence Dunbar's "We Wear the Mask", African-American experience
Who helped you fill out the form?
Aleia Brown
When was the form filled out?
3/30/2015
Quilt top made by:
Kellon, Gloria A.
Quilted by:
Kellon, Gloria A.
Where the quilt was made, city:
Shaker Heights
Where the quilt was made, state:
Ohio (OH)
Where the quilt was made, country:
United States
Time period:
2000-2025
When was the quilt finished?
2006
Quilt is presently used as:
Artwork/wall hanging
Quiltmaker's gender:
Female
Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:
African American
Does/did the quiltmaker belong to a group? Name of the group?
Women of Color Quilters Network
This is a:
Finished quilt
How wide is the quilt?
25"
How long is the quilt?
24"
Shape of edge:
Straight
What color is the quilt?
Black; Blue; Brown; Green; Orange; Pink
Quilt's condition:
Excellent/like new
Type of inscription:
Date; Multiple Names; Message; Place
Describe the type of inscription:
Poem
What is inscribed on the quilt?
We Wear the Mask P.L. Dunbar Gloria Kellon GLAAQN August 10, 2006 Also includes the entire poem on the back
What is the date inscribed on the quilt?
10-Aug-06
Method used to make the inscription:
Embroidery
Location of inscription:
on back
Describe where the inscription was found:
Bottom left
Describe the quilt's layout:
Pictorial
Number of borders:
2
Describe the borders:
Blue border- 1/2", green border- 2", green border has the first two lines from Paul Lawrence Dunbar's "We Wear the Mask"- We Wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes.
Fiber types used to make the quilt top:
Cotton; Rayon
Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:
African fabric, beads, cowrie shells, mirrors
Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:
Machine Applique
Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:
Machine embroidery
Materials used to make the back:
Cotton
Materials used in the quilt binding:
Cotton
How is the binding made?
Front turned to back
What is the width of the binding (measure on the top only)?
less than a half inch
How wide is the binding (measure on the top only)?
1/4"
What kind of filling is used in the quilt?
Cotton
How thick is the quilt?
Thin
How are the layers held together?
Machine quilting
Where did the maker find their pattern?
Original to maker
Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:
AAQDG Quilt Show Entered in a Great Lakes Competition
Person filling out this form is:
Quilt collector
Ownership of this quilt is:
Public- Michigan State University Museum
Quilt owner's name:
Michigan State University Museum
Quilt owner's city:
East Lansing
Quilt owner's county:
Ingham
Quilt owner's state:
Michigan (MI)
Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:
From the Collection of Carolyn Mazloomi
Who photographed this quilt?
Pearl Yee Wong
Copyright holder:
Michigan State University Museum, all rights reserved
Cite this Quilt
Kellon, Gloria A. We Wear the Mask. 2006. From Michigan State University Museum, Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Women of Color Quilters Network; Quilts and Human Rights; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=12-8-6703. Accessed: 04/27/24