African American Quilts

             Upon visiting the African American Quilt Exhibit at the Nelson Art Gallery there were several quilts which exemplified rhythm and pattern in design. Rhythm, a design principle not only based on repetition, but on clear repetitions of elements that are the same or slightly modified (Lauer Chapter 6) is greatly apparent in Sharecropper’s Masterpiece, by Avis Collins Robinson. In each square of the quilt were either vertical or horizontal lines of different fabrics. Each square contained the same colors, just in various orders. Alternating rhythm, rhythm consisting of successive patterns in which the same elements reappear in a regular order, is apparent being that the lines, being horizontal or vertical, alternate every other square. In recognition of the pattern of this quilt, which also consists of repetition of a reoccurring design, again the vertical and horizontal lines make up the entire piece of work. The second quilt, Untitled by an unknown has various repeating elements. The background itself has an exact repetitive pattern. The pink vertical stripes/rectangles are consistent throughout the quilt and are placed equal distances from each other. On top of those rectangles are yellow diamonds which continue vertically along the rectangles, each diamond touching the end of the next. The final layer consists of the squares on top of the diamonds which vary in color with no apparent color scheme. With pattern and rhythm, the repetition of various motifs creates a spark of interest for the viewer.