Honoring the Artistry and Legacy of Gee’s Bend

May 29

Our newest Little Free Antiracist Libraries are inspired by the extraordinary quiltmaking tradition of Gee’s Bend, Alabama—a remote Black community in Wilcox County where generations of women have transformed fabric scraps into powerful expressions of art, identity, and resistance. Their bold, improvisational quilts are more than visually stunning—they are living documents of survival, cultural memory, and collective strength.

Artist Netsanet (Net) Tesfay drew inspiration from the vibrant quilts—and the stories—crafted by the women of Gee’s Bend, a historically significant Black community known for its rural isolation and profound quiltmaking tradition. Demonstrating remarkable resourcefulness and frugality, these women created textiles out of necessity—using fabric remnants to provide warmth for their families, articulate cultural identity, and preserve generational heritage.

“I was moved by the resourcefulness, heritage, and connection woven into each quilt. In honoring that legacy, I reinterpreted their patchwork style through my own modern lens—using bold shapes, vivid patterns, and illustrated hand lettering to convey empowering messages like love and community.”

— Artist Netsanet (Net) Tesfay

As Net explored the history of Gee’s Bend, she was deeply inspired—and also surprised that so few people in our community had heard of the quiltmakers or their profound contributions to American art. Through her work, she hopes to help change that, honoring their legacy and sharing their story more widely through public art and conversation.

At the heart of each library is Net’s hand-drawn rendering of the word Community—a word that speaks not only to the neighborhoods where these libraries live, but also to the spirit of collective care carried by the women of Gee’s Bend.

To deepen the connection and spark curiosity, each library also includes a custom plaque introducing the Gee’s Bend quiltmakers and featuring a QR code that links to this article and accompanying resources below. The vibrant, patchwork-inspired artwork may draw people in—but as they pull out an antiracist book to read, they’ll also be learning a vital, often-overlooked chapter of Black history.

To further celebrate this legacy, we’re releasing limited-edition tees, hoodies, and tote bags featuring Net’s Community design. All proceeds will be donated to the Souls Grown Deep Foundation, an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the work of Black Southern artists—including the women of Gee’s Bend—through museum acquisitions, artist grants, and investments in their home communities.