"Give the Drummer Some: Tribute to James Gadson"

My father comes from a family of musicians most notably his half brother James Gadson. Uncle James is a Studio Musician, writer and performer. This quilt which honors his work is 1 of 2, the other honoring the work and hobbies of my father, Thomas Harold Gadson II.

Completed: June 2006
Technique: Machine appliquéd & quilted
Fiber: Cotton
Dimension: 36" x 60"
Artist: Laura R. Gadson

Quilt and craft artist Laura R. Gadson is a native New Yorker who lives and works out of her Harlem Brownstone. She worked for a decade with the New York City Board of Education as a full time teacher, has been an adjunct lecturer for Lehman College’s Dance program and continues to teach historic dance workshops for Princeton University. Ms. Gadson’s talents and the ability to teach others her crafts has made her instrumental in the success several large projects including Frederick Douglass Academy’s 1996 South African Doll Project, several New York City exhibitions for Harlem Girls Quilting Circle, and numerous dance and quilt productions with the New York City’s public school children. Currently she shares her love for the arts with students of all ages through various arts organizations including Yaffa Cultural Arts Inc., Music for Many, Brooklyn Center for Psychotherapy, Harlem Needle Arts and Opus Dance Theatre and Community Service Inc.

Ms. Gadson’s primary medium of visual artistic expression is quilting and her other creations are in the private collections of such notables as Iyanla Vanzant and Susan Taylor. Collecting vintage African America quilts and exploring their history are also passions of this artist. Her home is both a studio and gallery as well as and ongoing art project of its own. She is currently producing several series of quilt art including one entitled “Growing Up Gadson” featuring renditions of photographs and artwork by her father, the late Thomas Harold Gadson. She is a member of Harlem Girls Quilting Circle, the National Quilters Association and the Harlem Arts Alliance.

Ms. Gadson holds a BFA degree in dance from the City College of New York.

NQA and its Chapters present these quilts to be seen and enjoyed on our website - but not copied by any means. These quilts remain the artistic property of the makers. Standard copyright rules apply.