East Side quilt

Sonié Joi Thompson-Ruffin, artist

born 1951

East Side quilt, 2004–2005

Where object was made: United States

Material/technique: cotton; kente; piecing

Dimensions:
Object Length/Width (Length x Width): 214.5 x 217 cm
Object Length/Width (Length x Width): 85 7/16 x 84 7/16 in

Credit line: Museum purchase: Peter T. Bohan Art Acquisition Fund

Accession number: 2006.0004

On display: Simons Gallery

Add to portfolio

If you wish to reproduce this image, please submit an image request

Images

Label texts

Bold Women

Evoking a strong sense of community, Sonié Joi Thompson-Ruffin creates worlds and stories in this quilt made of African and American pieced fabrics. The design features a grid of colorful abstract patterns that allude to front porches, sidewalks, and bustling activity. The quilt tells the story of a tight-knit neighborhood of African Americans in the city of Joplin, Missouri.

Narratives of the Soul

It’s Saturday morning in the neighborhood 6:00 a.m. Mrs. West rooster just crowed to wake everyone up it’s an Indian summer day. Angie’s leaving to go to “the place” that’s what we call Harper’s BBQ her dad’s restaurant on Broadway. Bobby Gene, your Moma’s lookin’ for you Uncle John yells out the window of his car...
So begins Ruffin’s account of a typical day in East Side, the African American neighborhood of Joplin, Missouri, where she grew up. The lively grid of color and shapes suggests front porches, streets, and lots of activity. Incorporating both African print fabrics, such as Kente cloth and Korhogo cloth, and American print fabrics, such as polka dot and plaid, East Side gives visual form to Ruffin’s childhood memories of the family, friends, and activities that filled her Saturday mornings.

Exhibition Label:
"Recent Acquisitions," Mar-2006, Emily Stamey
Sonie Joi Ruffin is a nationally recognized quilt artist and storyteller. She incorporates both African print fabrics, such as Kente cloth, Mud cloth, and Korhogo cloth, and American print fabrics, such as polka dot, plaid, and floral prints, in her work. East Side gives visual form to the artist’s childhood memories of the family, friends, and activities that filled her Saturday mornings in “East Side,“ the African American neighborhood of Joplin, Missouri, in which she grew up.