Applique Quilt 1935 - 1942

Mildred Bent made this quilt from fabric—when? We don’t know exactly! I can imagine her in her studio—or maybe on her porch—arranging the patches of cloth, maybe remnants from old dresses. I see a green diamond shape with a pot of flowers in the middle, as well as little stars and hearts. It looks like a garden, a very personal garden. The colors are mostly muted, earth tones, greens, and reds, but with some pops of brighter hues, like that one blue star! I wonder, was she thinking about other artists while she was making this? I bet she was thinking about other women, other makers. I can feel her hand in it, piecing things together. There’s something about the humbleness of this quilt that I really love. It reminds me that art is not always about making something perfect. It’s about the process, the expression, the conversation, and the sheer delight in creating something from nothing.