I will continue to allow thoughtful, respectful commentaries that are cogent, germaine, and pertinent, to be “aired” publicly.

However, personal and derisive comments toward me, or anyone who is directly involved in these lawsuits, will be screened and deleted.

Thank you for visiting my Blog.

“The Truth Shall Set Us Free.”

Administrator

This is a story that is unfolding and there are more chapters that time will reveal. Several other lawsuits are pending which claim copyright infringement for a claimed unauthorized use of Gee’s Bend quilt designs for the manufacture of derivative items (such as rugs, etc.)

I am happy that the quilt world is advanced enough to know how to look at historical data regarding quilts, and we can assess it, with accuracy. In this third lawsuit, for example, a question arose regarding the dates of three ancestor-made – a “slave-made” quilts. Although former slaves lived beyond the dates of the Civil War, that ended in 1865, the ancestor in question died at least twenty years before the fabrics in the quilts were even produced. Of course, the kind of conclusion drawn, as a result, is “a no-brainer.”

With certified quilt appraisers and knowledgeable quilt historians who are available for assistance, there should be no doubt that the truth will be revealed when a quilt is given a false date.

The courts will finally decide on all of these various allegations against the Arnetts, and of course, those decisions will be binding.

We wish all parties the best, knowing full well that in any contentious litigation, there really are no “winners.” After all, even if there were a legal monetary settlement in favor of the quilters, the act of bringing these lawsuits looks pretty bad in itself, and has, in essence done some damage to the promotion of all of the quilts of Gee’s Bend, in my opinion.

I have to wonder about the motivations involved in these lawsuits, other than the obvious money-seeking. The world is watching the outcome and hoping that justice be done. I think that it is always better to err on the side of charity and goodwill.

The books that tell the story of Gee’s Bend are large and full of great color photos and the stories of the women who made the quilts. They are worth buying or borrowing from your local library. Thanks for your note!

Pat

Patty