Indigo

This aquatic-themed quilt evokes the artists’ connection to St. Helena Island, South Carolina. Quilter Thomas Mack (1922-2017) grew up quilting with his family on St. Helena, home to Gullah quilting and fishing traditions, while the quilt features indigo batik fabric hand-dyed by St. Helena artist-in-residence Arianne King Comer (1945-). Fish, leaves, and abstract designs float on the quilt’s rectangles in blues ranging from deep indigo to sky blue. Batik patches also include patterns in pastels, blue, green and yellow, and gold and pink. Knots in complementary blue and purple yarn secure the quilt top to batting and a backing of blue, orange, and white diamonds. This quilt was among four by Mack on display in the 1998 exhibition “Man Made: African American Men and Quilting Traditions” at the Anacostia Community Museum (2014.0023.0001, 2014.0023.0002, 2014.0023.0004).