In 1998, when William Arnett and his son Matt visited Gee’s Bend, Alabama, the quilters of the tiny rural town had no idea that in just four years, their lives would change.

The quilts they created as necessities would be showcased at major art museums across the United States and praised by the New York Times as “some of the most miraculous works of modern art America has produced.”

The tour of The Quilts of Gee’s Bend has brought a renewed sense of pride for the women of the community. Their creations were originally the products of thrift and necessity: fabric scraps and worn out work-clothes were transformed into warm quilts.

Today, the quiltmakers are free to explore their creativity as artists and their bold colors and expressive designs communicate an enjoyment of freedom and hopeful possibility.