Introduction by Janet Chalker, Guest Curator
The exhibit “Signs and Shibboleths” was inspired by the book “Hidden in Plain View – A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad” by Jacqueline L. Tobin and Raymond C. Dobard, PhD.  This book chronicles Tobin and Dobard’s quest to understand how quilts may have been used to assist runaway slaves.  As importantly, the authors connect this coded narrative to the African artistic traditions they brought with them to America.   This research took hold when Tobin was befriended by an African-American quilter in a market in Charleston, SC, Mrs. Ozella McDaniel Williams.  After several visits, Ozella told her to “write this down” and entrusted Tobin with the long-guarded mnemonic that was used to explain and remember the quilt code.

A group of local artists and artisans, working in a variety of media, have come together to embody this story of audacity and ingenuity.  Each of the artist’s work hints at the possible meaning of the block pattern, while also giving testament to the courage, intellect and resourcefulness of those who left and those who stayed to help.  It is also intentional that this project has been done by a community of creative folks – since it took a community to reach freedom. 

Our intention has always been to open this exhibit at Easter, since that, for Christians, is the ultimate journey to freedom.  Given that circumstances  prohibit us from gathering in person, we offer this virtual tour of the exhibit featuring images and personal reflections from the artists.  Over the next several weeks we will be posting interviews, readings and other stuff we found interesting while putting this all together.  If you want to see the exhibit in person, please contact us by phone (540) 586-8482 or email to set an appointment (limited to no more than 2 people at a time). The exhibition will be up through May 22nd.

"But little by little,
as you left their voice behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world..."
excerpt from The Journey by Mary Oliver [Read More]

At first glance we see the large image, then realize that all the parts of it are made by combining the parts of smaller images, simply by changing the “value”, or lightness/darkness of those pieces.  In the same way, the message behind the quilt pattern was hidden in plain sight.  So that only those who had the key could read the message.  [Read More]

In every journey there is a moment when you have to commit.  You must make a plan, pack up and decide it is time to leave; decide it’s time to change.  This quilt block, for me, represents that moment.  It is layered with spiritual connections – the Carpenter’s Wheel, referencing Jesus the carpenter and Ezekiel’s wheel which ran on faith and grace.  We are told to “steal away to Jesus”, to find our own freedom, our own path.  [Read More]

This challenge intrigued me in all the messaging and the risks all participants undertook, both in escaping but also assisting those people in their flight.  I took the challenge within my artistic domain, which is woodworking, and chose the Bears Paw block, since the message was to “follow the bears tracks through the woods to the cross roads”. [Read More]

Eshu, also spelled Eschu, also called Elegba, is a trickster god of the Yoruba of Nigeria, an essentially protective, benevolent spirit who serves Ifa, the chief god, as a messenger between heaven and earth. Eshu requires constant appeasement in order to carry out his assigned functions of conveying sacrifices and divining the future...Many of these enslaved people would come to adopt the religion of the Europeans that were their allies in this journey to freedom.  They were baptized into new memories, beliefs, rituals and cosmologies … but in this baptism, these converts would profoundly alter this European religion forever. [Read More]

The pattern of the woman hanging on the wall is from Bisa Butler's beautiful quilt.  The crossroad pattern is behind her.  The figure looking at it is a combination of Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman elected to the US Congress (holding up a peace sign), and Angela Davis, who was associated with the Black Panthers, a militant group fighting for that same peace, but in a more radical way (holding up the fist).  Just two women who took different paths (crossroads) to achieve peace in the 60's.  [Read More]

I chose to do Shoofly. Not a lot Is known about this symbol. It Is thought that Shoofly
may refer to an actual person who might have aided escaping slaves. In the book Hidden in Plain Sight- A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad it says,"Shoofly told them to dress up in cotton and satin bow ties and go to the cathedral church, get married and exchange double wedding rings".

...These items were not decorative but had utilitarian purposes in addition to their use as a signpost on the Railroad...In my piece, I’ve tried to remain true to this ideal.  The block consists of 36 triangles cut from red cedar and yellow poplar logs.  The red cedar triangles came from logs that were deadfall on my property.  The yellow poplar triangles were fashioned from a log that came from my wife’s uncle’s workshop.  The block is framed in pine strips that came from century-old pine that I inherited from my father over 20 years ago. [Read More]

A signal to follow the direction of the flying geese as they migrated north in the spring.  Most slaves escaped during the spring; along the way the flying geese could be used as a guide to find water, food and places to rest.

Flying Geese pattern told the slaves to follow migrating geese north towards Canada and to freedom. This pattern was used as directions as well as the best season for slaves to escape. Geese fly north in spring and summer. Geese also stop at waterways along their journey to rest and eat.
 
I Interpreted Flying Geese in paper, painting the re and blue "fabrics" in African motifs. The green triangles represent maps of the corn fields and may have aided slaves who were unfamiliar with the layout of a specific plantation to find their way.

This is a very old pattern which represented Canada as a place to flee to.  Slaves would cross  the Detriot  River  to get to Chatham and on to Toronto.  I lived in Canada for forty years where there is a rich quilting tradition of folks with African heritage.  I wanted to honor these women by making my quilt a authentic as I could using those traditional techniques.  I have come full circle … when I first  started  to quilt the flying geese was the pattern I choose to make my first quilt  

Drunkard’s Path is a very simple design composed of changing orientations of 16 squares composed of two shapes: a quarter circle, and the surround. Simple shapes at a glance, but a somewhat advanced pattern due to the curved shapes. In this mosaic interpretation of Drunkard’s Path for this Underground Railroad Project, varying the size of the components of the design adds to the complexity of walking a zig zag route to elude pursuers. [Read More]

Times of struggle require new ways of seeing, new ways of understanding, new ways of living.  Map makers combine color and pattern to set the course – follow, follow, follow.  Singers and dancers dictate the movement – feet to the ground, eyes to the sky.  Visioners – starry-eyed yet rooted – tell of the promises yet to come. [Read More]

…I set the North Star in the heavens and I mean for you to be free…
 
Harriet Tubman was an American abolitionist and political activist.  Born into slavery Tubman escaped and subsequently made some 13 missions to rescue approximately 70 enslaved people, including family and friends, using the network of antislavery activists and safes houses known as the Underground Railroad.