QUILT INDEX RECORD

31-27-205

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:

CHSLM335

Person filling out this form is:

Quiltmaker

When was the form filled out?

2014

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

A Nations Hero

How wide is the quilt?

75cm

How long is the quilt?

75cm

Shape of edge:

Straight

Predominate colors:

Black; Blue; Red

Overall condition:

Excellent/like new

Time period:

2000-2025

When was the quilt finished?

February 2014

Describe the quilt's layout:

Nontraditional or art

Subject of the quilt:

Nelson Mandela

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

Shwe-shwe

Embellishment techniques:

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

Describe the techniques used to make the quilt top:

Raw edge applique, free machine embroidery, hand embroidery.

Embellishments used:

Buttons attached

Quilt top made by:

Murray, Barbara

Quilted by:

Murray, Barbara

Where the quilt was made, city:

Newcastle

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

Where did the quiltmaker find the pattern for the quilting design on the quilt?

Original to maker

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 77.

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's name:

Barbara Murray

Quilt owner's city:

Newcastle

Quilt owner's province:

Kwa-Zulu Natal

Quilt owner's country:

South Africa

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's birth date:

6/8/1969

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

South African

Quiltmaker's occupation:

Accountant

Quiltmaker's city:

Newcastle

Quiltmaker's province:

Kwa-Zulu Natal

Quiltmaker's country:

South Africa

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

South African Quilters Guild
Kwa-Zulu Natal Quilters Guild

Description of quilt:

Barbara Murray
A Nation’s Hero
Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | Shweshwe, cotton, buttons; raw-edge appliquéd, free machine embroidered, hand embroidered

How can we not want to make a quilt of Nelson Mandela? He was such an inspiration to so many and achieved so much; an ordinary man who became an extraordinary leader. As a lover of fabric I could not help myself paying extra attention to the shirts that Madiba was famous for wearing. I therefore decided to use the Shweshwe fabric for my background since this is a fabric unique to South Africa and commonly used in traditional clothing. The shape of my background also refers to our national flag. I depicted Nelson Mandela’s silhouette, an image that became all too familiar. I added hands to refer to the Nelson Mandela’s Children’s Fund for which he did so much in life and death. I added words like freedom, peace, dreams – all things he believed in.

Essay:

I grew up on a farm in Newcastle, Kwa-Zulu Natal and still lives there with my husband and two sons. I am an accountant by trade and therefore all stitching should be done in straight lines and be accounted for. I was part of the fabric painting craze in 2000. My neighbour encouraged me to start stitching on my paintings and later taught me the basics of quilting. I did not even have a sewing machine and had to borrow one. I have entered my first quilt in 2004 in the Durban National Quilt Festival and won the Judges Choice Award - I was hooked. I enjoy making quilts - it is my way of stress relieve. After 10 years of quilting my fellow quilters never stop to amaze me with their work and are a constant inspiration.

Who photographed this quilt?

Dion Cuyler

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

The copyright belongs to the owner/artist.