Union College Welcomes

The Liberia's Hope Quilting Initiative

As part of our celebration of the 40th anniversary of co-education at Union College

we are honored to host The Liberia's Hope Quilting Initiative which will be on display we are honored to host The Liberia's Hope Quilting Initiative which will be on display

in the Nott Memorial February 3 – March 11, 2011. These beautiful quilts from West

Africa are hand stitched and designed with love. The stories of these quilts began in

2004 when a group of women, who had fled the earlier civil crisis in Liberia, moved

back to their native land. Upon their return, with an 80% unemployment rate in their

country, they began making quilts in order to help provide for the basic needs of

their families. They named their group Quageh, which comes from the Kpelle

language meaning “We Can Make It.” The Quageh members learned quilting from language meaning “We Can Make It.” The Quageh members learned quilting from

elder women and it is believed that these elder women may have learned their skills

directly from African American women who were freed slaves brought to Liberia

after the US Civil War. This initiative is coordinated by The Corporation for Economic

Opportunity (CEO) which was founded and directed by Joseph James III Union Class

of 1969 (www.prosperityforall.org).

The opening reception for this unique display of quilts will be held on Thursday,

February 3, 2011 from 5:30 – 8:00 pm in the Union College Nott Memorial. The

guest speaker will be the well-known researcher of African American quilts and quilt

history, Kyra Hicks (www.blackthreads.blogspot.com/). The show runs from February

3 through March 11, 2011.

Quilt Show Coordinators – Gretchel Hathaway, Senior Director of Campus Diversity;

Karen Ferrer Muniz, Director of Multicultural Affairs; Sarah Iacobacci, Administrative

Assistant President’s Office; and Matt Milless, Director of Student Activities and

Photographer.Photographer.

Special thanks to: Joseph James, Rachel Seligman, The Office of Special Events

and Union College Facilities Office. Contact : Sarah Iacobacci - (518) 388-6101.

Elephant $35 27.5” W x 28.5” L

Fo Fo Adinkra Symbol $35 24” W x 26.5” L

Comb $35 20.5” W x 23” L Funtumireku $35 (Sharing) 23.5” W x 27.5” L

Akoma Ntoso (Linked Hearts) $3523.5” W x 26.5” L

Ese Ne Tekrema (Teeth & Tongue) $3524.5” W x 28.5” L

Flower $75 47.5” L x 48.5” W Butterflies $100 48” W x 48” L

Square in a Square $75 43” W x 45” L

Liberian Woman $75 54” W x 52” L Flower $75 42.5” W x 45.5” L

Star Flowers $50 51.5” W x 50.5” L

Palmetto $75 46” W x 47” L Sankofa Adinkra Symbol $50

42.5” L x 50.5” W

Baskets (Classic North Carolina Pattern)

$50 40” W x 47” L

Four Flowers $50 48” W x47” L Flowers Swirls $600 108” W x 100” L

Butterflies $100 47.5” W x 48” L

Gye Nyame (Except for God) $650

94” W x 92” LBaskets $650 86” W x 101” L

Tulip Vines $600 96” W x 108” L Mixed Adinkra Symbols $650

98” W x 100” L

Nyame Nti (By God’s Grace) $675

94”W x 104”L Coffee Tree $500 54” W x 81” L

Women of Liberia $675 98” W x 98” L

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Photos and Design By Matt Milless ©MahiMattPhoto