Paying Homage to Harriet Powers

As part of the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in Arlington, ArtsArlington Public Art Curator Cecily Miller invited the fiber artists of the Princeton Sankofa Stitchers Modern Quilt Guild to share their powerful tribute to Harriet Powers. Powers was an extraordinary artist who lived through the Civil War and into the early 20th century. Although the radical ideals of liberty and equality that powered the Revolution were imperfectly accomplished, we aimed to celebrate them through this exhibition, generously hosted by Mystic Open Studios.

The Princeton Sankofa Stitchers Modern Quilt Guild (PSSMQG) honors the legacy of African American quilting with their vibrant homage to Harriet Powers (1837-1910), the Black quilter and folk artist born enslaved in Madison County, Georgia. PSSMQG has faithfully recreated Powers’ “Pictorial Quilt” in a modern context, using their own colorful fabrics and contemporary sensibilities to create the beautiful quilted and appliqued blocks exhibited on Patriot’s Day Weekend, 2025.

Powers’ quilts are considered some of the finest examples of African American art and have made lasting contributions to American cultural heritage. Only two of Harriet Powers’ quilts are known to survive: the “Bible Quilt” (1886), held at the Smithsonian Institution, and the “Pictorial Quilt” (1888), housed at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Mrs. Powers used appliqué, machine stitching, and hand stitching to create these quilts, which depict Bible stories, prophecies and astronomical events.

We are grateful to Guild members Mada Coles Galloway, Lesyslie Rackard, & Tarsha-Nicole Taylor for generously spending Patriot’s Day Weekend at Mystic Open Studio during exhibit visiting hours to share their perspectives and expertise. Although she was unable to be present, we are also grateful to Juandamarie Gkikandi for her work behind the scenes, including organizing the loan and exhibition of quilt blocks. You can learn more about PSSMQG here!