QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-6748

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Women of Color Quilters Network; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

15.0116

If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:

2014:55.37

Essay:

Artist statement from Textural Rhythms: Quilting the Jazz Tradition:
This piece was inspired by a photo of my cousin, blues and jazz vocalist Jo Thompson during her heyday in the 1950s when she shared the stage with luminaries such as Lena Horne, Bobby Short and Duke Ellington. A Detroit native, she was discovered by Walter Winchell and has performed all over the world, including NYC, Havana, and Japan and continues to do so even now. In the piece, I wanted to create a bold sense of movement as vibrant as her personality. She describes herself as "fabulous" and everyone else should know that she is too.

Quilt's title:

My Fabulous Cousin Jo Sings Jazz

Subject of the quilt:

Cousin Jo Thompson, Jazz

Who helped you fill out the form?

Aleia Brown

When was the form filled out?

3/26/2015

Quilt top made by:

Holland-Moore, Lawana

Quilted by:

Holland-Moore, Lawana

Where the quilt was made, city:

Fairmounts Heights

Where the quilt was made, state:

Maryland (MD)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Time period:

2000-2025

When was the quilt finished?

2005

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?

40"

How long is the quilt?

45 1/2"

Shape of edge:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Beige or Tan; Black; Blue; Gold; Gray; Green; Purple; Red; Yellow; White

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

Type of inscription:

Date; Message; Place; Single Inscription

What is inscribed on the quilt?

"My Fabulous Cousin Jo Sings Jazz" July 2005 Lawana Holland-Moore [Address] Fairmount Heights, MD [Zip] USA [phone] [email] 40x45 1/2"

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

2005

Method used to make the inscription:

Attached label

Describe where the inscription was found:

Sewn on back twice, initials also stitched on front

Describe the quilt's layout:

Pictorial

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton; Cotton or polyester blend; Rayon

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

Tulle, glass beads

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique; Fusible Applique

Describe the techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand beaded

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Attachments (beading, charms, buttons, etc); Ink drawing; Painting

Embellishments used:

Cotton thread

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Cannot tell

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:

"Textural Rhythms: Quilting the Jazz Tradition" (traveling exhibit) 2007-2012

Publications (including web sites) where this quilt or maker was featured:

Textural Rhythms: Constructing the Jazz Tradition, Contemporary African American Quilts (exhibit catalog) by Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi. 2007. Quilters Newsletter Magazine, December 2007, p. 52

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