"All Blues"

Inspired by my husband's favorite song "All Blues" from the Miles Davis classic jazz album, "Kind Of Blue", lyrics Oscar Brown Jr. Miles is one of my favorite jazz musicians and a master to the ballard. Oscar’s lyrics strike me as a poem which captures the true essence of life. The quilt is made in the African American, West African and Caribbean aesthetic tradition using strips as a chief construction technique and dominant design element. The improvisational style of asymmetrical arrangement of cloth and multiple patterning, especially resonate with my artistic vision and cultural references. This style of pattern breaking has been linked to spirit possession and the rebirth of ancestral power. A strip quilt, called the "Lazy Gal", was one of the first patterns taught to young African American girls. Interestingly, I am very new to quilting and did not know the details of this style until after I had almost finished the quilt and read "Signs & Symbols, African Images in African American Quilts" by Maude Southwell Wahlman.

Completed: June 2006
Technique: Machine pieced, appliquéd, thread painted, machine quilted
Fiber: Silks, cottons, and other assorted fabrics, and scraps
Dimension: 65 X 92
Artist: Paula Irby-Wynter

The newest member, Paula was connected to the women of Harlem Girls Quilting Circle through dance and friendship. Having dabbled with oil painting and possessing cast off sewing skills, she was drawn into quilting after being asked to help one member with an illustration. She is especially attracted to art quilting and the traditional aesthetic of African American quilting. Paula’s professional career includes a twenty year stint as Regional Director with the NYS Division of Human Rights. She currently balances her quilting with Consulting, Life Coaching, and African dance production projects, and is pursuing her interest in writing as well.

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