QUILT INDEX RECORD

31-27-195

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:

CHSLM320

Person filling out this form is:

Quiltmaker

When was the form filled out?

2014

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

Letter to Mama Lochner

How wide is the quilt?

76cm

How long is the quilt?

76cm

Shape of edge:

Straight

Predominate colors:

Cream; Gray

Overall condition:

Excellent/like new

Time period:

2000-2025

When was the quilt finished?

May, 20-23, 2014

Describe the quilt's layout:

Nontraditional or art

Subject of the quilt:

Nelson Mandela

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Applique

Describe the techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine ABC Lettering. Letter and pamphlet were printed on cotton

How is the binding made?

Separate binding applied

How are the layers held together?

Machine quilting

Quilt top made by:

Claase, Mari

Quilted by:

Claase, Mari

Where the quilt was made, city:

Worcester

Where the quilt was made, province:

Western Cape

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 40.

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's name:

Mari Claase

Quilt owner's city:

Worcester

Quilt owner's province:

Western Cape

Quilt owner's country:

South Africa

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

South African

Quiltmaker's city:

Worcester

Quiltmaker's province:

Western Cape

Quiltmaker's country:

South Africa

Description of quilt:

Marí Claasé
Letter to Mama Lochner
Worcester, Western Cape, South Africa | Cotton; fabric printed and machine quilted, embroidered, and appliquéd

My quilt carries a copy of a touching letter that was written by a black South African youth Tembelani Ben to Tanya Lochner, his teacher at the Eureka Youth Centre School in Rawsonville, Western Cape, South Africa. This school was started in 2001 to accommodate juvenile offenders who had been referred to the school by the courts. It is a place where these youth are given a second chance to rediscover themselves; some, like Ben, undergo a completely new outlook on life. This story forms part of Nelson Mandela’s legacy – the uplifting of troubled youths.

When I finished the quilt, I told the teacher that I planned to donate this quilt to their school once it is back from touring in the exhibition. I was informed that this school, and 3 similar ones, will be closed down in the very near future and that all these boys will be sent back to jail because the government no longer has the financial aid to support them. I find it rather shocking and it makes no sense to take away this very important opportunity to do something positive and constructive for its troubled young people.

Essay:

My story about me and this quilt: I decided to write a copy of a touching letter on my quilt that was written by a black South African youth Tembelani Ben to his Teacher Tanya Lochner. She is a teacher at the school EUREKA YOUTH CENTRE Rawsonville Western Cape, South Africa. This school was started in 2001 to accommodate juvenile offenders that had been referred by the courts. It is a place where boys between the age of 14-18 years of age are sent to be given a second chance to rediscover themselves. The school’s informative pamphlet as well as a duplicate of Tembelani’s original letter is printed onto the quilt. This is definitely a lovely true story that in my opinion forms part of Nelson Mandela’s Legacy – the uplifting of troubled youths. When I finished the quilt on Friday the 23rd of May 2014 I told the teacher that I will donate this quilt to their school once it is back from the USA in 2018. I was informed that this school as well as 3 other similar schools, will be closed down in the very near future and that all these boys will be sent back to jail because the government does not have the financial aid to support any of these schools any more. …??? I find it rather shocking and it makes no sense at all to take away this well established second chance of so many youths that so desperately NEED these special schools. It is this country’s only chance to do something very important and positive and constructive to some of its troubled young people. Such support to a Human being in need, cannot be weighed in terms of money……. And the proof there of can be seen in the very touching letter of Thembelani Ben, who once was a troubled youth but who’s second chance changed his whole outlook on life.

A bit about myself: I have been a quilter since 1990. After going through all the learning curves of traditional quiltmaking, I soon realised myself to be a true innovater. Since 2010 I have grown to be more of a fibre artist and free spirit. I am not being influenced too much by other quilters as I live on my own against huge mountains on a farm, getting all my inspiration from my natural surroundings and life experiences. I am a qualified occupational therapist and raised 3 boys.

Although I come from a very creative family, I don’t have a professional art background. I find my passion in creating very integrated and original theme quilts. I use any aspect of life and love to create texture and interesting combinations. Design, color and use of multi techniques are my strong areas of expertise. In 2001 I won a first for ‘Best use of Colour’ in the World Quilt Competition in the USA. Nationally I have won many first prizes in mainly Theme categories as well as many other 2nd and 3rd places. I can say that Fibre art / quiltmaking is my main activity and passion in life. My whole life evolves around design, colour, thinking up original interesting classes and working for competitions. It keeps me going and makes my life very interesting.

On the art of Quiltmaking: For me the main aspect of a quilt is the VISUAL IMPACT, that first strong impression. Then Originality, the flow of the quilt, the balance of the quilt, the colours used to portray your idea, to think outside the box, techniques used, the execution of the quilt; even the exhibition of the quilt is important, is it hanging flat, etc. If you can portray a powerful message or thoughtful idea or event in such a way that no one else has done before….; If you can portray pattern in such a way that it takes your breath away…; If you make a quilt that is almost inhuman to stitch together and comes out perfectly balanced in every way….; that makes a quilt artistically powerful. Two of the things a great quiltmaker should have is a TOTAL PASSION for using fabric as a means of expression AND a lot of perseverance.

Who photographed this quilt?

Dion Cuyler

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

The copyright belongs to the owner/artist.