QUILT INDEX RECORD

31-27-203

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:

CHSLM326

Person filling out this form is:

Quiltmaker

When was the form filled out?

2014

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

Ukuqala Okutsha ( A New Beginning)

How wide is the quilt?

30"

How long is the quilt?

30"

Shape of edge:

Straight

Predominate colors:

Blue; Brown; Green; White; Yellow

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

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton; Silk

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Hand-dyed

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

Hand painted canvas/fabric (By the quilter), cotton and polyester yarn

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Applique

Embellishment techniques:

Painting

How is the binding made?

Separate binding applied

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Cotton or polyester blend

Describe the quilt filling:

80 percent cotton + 20 percent polyester mixed batting

How are the layers held together?

Machine quilting

Quilt top made by:

van der Walt, Elmine

Quilted by:

van der Walt, Elmine

Where the quilt was made, city:

Potchefstroom

Where the quilt was made, province:

North West

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 92.

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's name:

Elmine van der Walt

Quilt owner's city:

Potchefstroom

Quilt owner's province:

North West

Quilt owner's country:

South Africa

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's birth date:

2/4/1955

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

South African

Quiltmaker's occupation:

Physciotherapist

Quiltmaker's city:

Potchefstroom

Quiltmaker's province:

North West

Quiltmaker's country:

South Africa

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

Belonging to Golden West Quilters Guild and De Oude Molen Quilters Guild

Description of quilt:

Elmine van der Walt
Ukuqala Okutsha (A New Beginning)
Potchefstroom, North West, South Africa | Hand-dyed cotton, silk, cotton/polyester threads and batting; machine pieced, machine appliquéd and quilted, hand painted

The quilt represents South Africa, a new beginning, from 1994 – 2014. The quilt is symbolic of the new South Africa with President Mandela as the creator of freedom.

It is a depiction of Mandela looking out of a window at the prison on Robben Island at the sunrise over the sea. Seeing the sun rises every morning, he also saw in his mind the sun rising for South Africa and the role he could play. The new South African flag, draped around Mandela’s shoulders, is symbolic of the new South Africa – a country for all. I chose a Xhosa name for the title because Mandela is a Xhosa.

Who photographed this quilt?

Dion Cuyler

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

The copyright belongs to the owner/artist.