Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1518483
98 maconmagazine.com | April/May 2024 WINI MCQUEEN "Quilting is important because it is something we own," said textile artist Wini McQueen. "Women own it, and women of African descent especially own it. We came to America with the knowledge of textiles. There was no going to the factory for fabrics. It was very much a part of us because zero waste was a part of our philosophy." Quilting was often seen as primarily utilitarian. No piece of fabric - not even a flour sack - was wasted. Quilts were valued for their functionality and approached as economical. "My grandmother quilted," said Wini, "yet I never knew any people who quilted for the joy of it or necessarily for its aesthetics. I never heard quilts being dubbed beautiful." Through a lifetime of creating art and a career as a textile artist, Wini has reclaimed the form of quilting as something beautiful but also something bold. One of her many art forms, quilting has become a palette for her most personal works. From her family tree on display at the Museum of Arts and Sciences to her current work that honors those who were enslaved and robbed of their names, Wini has discovered a depth in quilting. "Quilting taught me to respect my heritage more than ever," said Wini. "When I committed to have a career in textile design, I knew that I would only be able to be mindful of the textiles of African American people. Even at that point, I had visions of going near and far to discover those textiles. Quilting taught me to be respectful of our past, of what our resources were, to understand in a more intelligent way, what we had. Quilts taught me about the world. Once I began seeking art quilts, it took me around the Southern region." From Mississippi to Miami, Wini sought the fabrics and stories that patched together a bigger narrative. Through the pieces themselves and by sharing her approach with quilters, Wini is bringing the legacy of quilting full circle. She shares her quilting heritage with quilting groups across the state, including the one the Fanchers are a part of. Just this March, Wini visited the Heart of Georgia Quilting Guild, adding another layer to the story. Stitching history ABOVE Textile artist Wini McQueen displays a quilted coat, wall hanging, and hand-dyed sweater.