QUILT INDEX RECORD

31-27-194

Who documented this quilt?

South Africa Quilt History Project; Conscience of the Human Spirit: The Life of Nelson Mandela; The Black Diaspora Quilt History Project

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

South Africa Quilt History Project

South Africa Quilt History Project Number:

CHSLM317

Person filling out this form is:

Quiltmaker

When was the form filled out?

2014

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

To Be Free

How wide is the quilt?

76cm

How long is the quilt?

76cm

Overall condition:

Excellent/like new

Time period:

2000-2025

When was the quilt finished?

2014

Describe the quilt's layout:

Nontraditional or art

Subject of the quilt:

Nelson Mandela

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

Tea bags, Lutradur, silk paper, felt, heavy canvas, netting

Embellishment techniques:

Attachments (beading, charms, buttons, etc); Embroidery

Describe the techniques used to make the quilt top:

Photo's on lutradur, machine embroidered, tea bag collage. The figure of Nelson Mandela made out of felt and silk paper, and South African fabric.

Quilt top made by:

Beaumont, Helga

Quilted by:

Beaumont, Helga

Where the quilt was made, city:

Kloof, Durban

Where the quilt was made, province:

Kwa-Zulu Natal

Where the quilt was made, country:

South Africa

Quilt is presently used as:

Artwork/wall hanging

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

Consceince of the Human Spirit: The Life of Nelson Mandela; International Quilt Conference Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa, July 2014

Related items such as diaries, obituaries, wills, household inventories, or pictures of the quiltmaker:

MacDowell, Marsha; Mazloomi, Carolyn. Conscience of the Human Spirit: The Life of Nelson Mandela. Michigan State University Museum, East Lansing, 2014; page 32.

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's name:

Helga Beaumont

Quilt owner's city:

Kloof, Durban

Quilt owner's province:

Kwa-Zulu Natal

Quilt owner's country:

South Africa

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's birth date:

1953

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

South African

Quiltmaker's occupation:

Artist/Teacher

Quiltmaker's city:

Kloof, Durban

Quiltmaker's province:

Kwa-Zulu Natal

Quiltmaker's country:

South Africa

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

member of Fibreworks

Description of quilt:

Helga Beaumont
To Be Free
Kloof, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | Tea bags, photo transfers on Lutradur, silk paper, felt, heavy canvas, netting; embroidered, quilted

For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. – Nelson Mandela

With Nelson Mandela’s release and the elections of 1994, a new regime in South Africa was born and with Nelson Mandela at the helm, we had peace and a new vision for a better South Africa – ‘The Rainbow Nation’ as Desmond Tutu described us. Now 20 years into democracy and with the elections of 2014 over, we are well and truly established onto a path of equality for all – a path that Madiba dreamt of and made possible for all South Africans.

This Madiba quilt project appealed to me on all levels. I have an extensive collection of photographs and wanted to use them in this quilt to tell of the injustice suffered by so many who were deprived of the beauty of their country. I used tea bags to give the feel and texture of the prison walls, and used black and white fabric and threads, to symbolize the struggle between black and white. Madiba is raising his fist just as he did on that day that he walked, hand in hand with his wife Winnie, to freedom.

Essay:

I was born and raised in the Free State in South Africa, where apartheid was particularly virulent. With Nelson Mandela’s release and the elections of 1994, a new regime was born and with Nelson Mandela at the helm, we had peace and a new vision for a better South Africa – ‘The Rainbow Nation’ as Desmond Tutu described us. I have been a quilter and fibreworker for the last 20 years, and this Madiba Challenge appealed to me on all levels. I have an extensive collection of photographs and wanted to use them in this quilt to tell of the injustice suffered by so many who were deprived of the beauty of their country. I used tea bags to give the feel and texture of the prison walls, and used black and white fabric and threads, to symbolise the struggle between black and white. Madiba is raising his fist in my wall hanging - just as he did on that day that he walked hand in hand with his wife Winnie to Freedom. My quilting journey has been a long and varied one. Having small children in the 80’s, I started with evening embroidery classes which opened up Pandora’s box. An Afro/American class with Rosalie Dace broke the boundaries of traditional quilting, and I have explored my own ways of putting fabric work together since then. I am seduced by colour, so working in black and white has been an interesting experience. Over the years I have been fortunate to do classes with many wonderful teachers. Local teachers include Odette Tolksdorf, Jeanette Gilks, Jutta Faulds and Kathryn Harmer Fox, to name but a few. Village Quilters, the guild I belong to here in Durban, has invited teachers such Caryl Bryer Fallert from America and Gloria Loughman from Australia to teach and inspire. I have attended a quilt show in Paducah and the Quilt and Stitch Show in the UK. Done a class with Nancy Crow, Bill Walker and attended a Ricky Timms’ seminar at the International Quilt Convention held in Johannesburg annually. I love attending classes as I learn so much, but then have to remember to make my work my own. My fabric stash has grown considerably with the dye lessons from Marjorie McWilliams at Quilt University. In the last two years, I have built on a wet studio next to my sewing room. It has glass windows and the most beautiful view into the trees. The birds love it – early in the morning the trumpeter hornbills, as well as a thrush sit on the veranda and knock on the windows. One can only assume they see themselves reflected! It is wonderful to have the space and the time to work in peace. My children are grown up, and I can dye and print and sew to my heart’s content. From the computer, to the printer, to the design wall as big as the back wall in the studio, then the fabric choices – it is endless fun. Everything is set up and the quote “Imagination is a transcendental wonder” applies in every way. I have been a member of Fibreworks for the last fourteen years. Fibreworks was created by a group of quilters whose aim is to promote Fibre as a serious art form. Our work encompasses a large range of techniques, materials and approaches that give us, the fibre artists, endless possibilities to explore our creativity in many ways. Now 20 years into democracy, with the elections of 2014 over, we are well and truly established onto a path of equality for all – a path that Madiba dreamt of, and made possible for all South Africans. I end with a quote “From a Passage to Africa” by George Alagiah Africa will change Its people will be strong Nkosi sikele Afrika - God bless Africa Helga Beaumont

Who photographed this quilt?

Dion Cuyler

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

The copyright belongs to the owner/artist.