Jazz Storm quilt

Viola Burley Leak, artist

born 1944

Jazz Storm quilt, 2006

Where object was made: United States

Material/technique: fabric; appliqué; piecing; quilting

Dimensions:
Object Height/Width (Height x Width): 223.52 x 185.42 cm
Object Height/Width (Height x Width): 88 x 73 in

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

Accession number: 2008.0323

On display: Marshall Balcony

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Images

Label texts

Bold Women

This quilt is a tribute to the musicians of New Orleans who suffered the fallout of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. References to the city landscape include silhouettes of the Superdome and a Bourbon Street sign. Some of the jazz musicians struggle to save their instruments, while others try to keep their heads above water. Although the quilt is full of displacement and loss, a phoenix rises as a symbol of hope, and a hand holds the shape of Louisiana.

Narratives of the Soul

Created in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Leak’s quilt serves as a tribute to the musicians of New Orleans who suffered the effects of the storm. Some struggle to save their instruments while others try to keep their heads above water. The flood displaced many, including musicians who resettled in neighboring states. Leak places instruments inside figurative silhouettes to represent the idea that the musicians carry their music with them wherever they go. Although the quilt is full of displacement and loss, a phoenix rises as a symbol of hope, and a hand holds the shape of Louisiana. Known also as a painter and printmaker, Leak studied with artist Aaron Douglas at Fisk University and feels indebted to his ideas—including close ties to music and the use of powerful figures in silhouette.

20/21

This quilt serves as a tribute to the musicians of New Orleans who were affected by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. References to the landscape of the city are present through silhouettes of the Superdome, a Bourbon Street
sign, and a Mardi Gras harlequin figure. The quilt included symbolism that relates both to the city and to Hurricane Katrina. The line of musicians that stream from the notes of a saxophone player represent the march of musicians at a jazz funeral. Above the saxophone player, a phoenix is included as a symbol of hope for rebuilding the community after the hurricane. The second line of silhouettes with musical instruments in the middle section of the quilt embodies the notion that musicians carry their music inside of themselves wherever they travel. This belief is important particularly after the hurricane since many of the musicians abandoned New Orleans after the hurricane and resettled in
neighboring states. These sites of displacement are pictured within the lower half of the quilt while the floor water that connects the upper and lower halves of the quilt acts as a path to the other states for the musicians to follow. The far left section illustrates two musicians attempting to keep their heads above water as their instruments float next to them.

Exhibition Label:
“Quilting Time and Space,” Jun-2010, Natalie Svacina
This quilt serves as a tribute to the musicians of New Orleans who were affected by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. References to the landscape of the city are present through silhouettes of the Superdome, a Bourbon Street
sign, and a Mardi Gras harlequin figure. The quilt included symbolism that relates both to the city and to Hurricane Katrina. The line of musicians that stream from the notes of a saxophone player represent the march of musicians at a jazz funeral. Above the saxophone player, a phoenix is included as a symbol of hope for rebuilding the community after the hurricane. The second line of silhouettes with musical instruments in the middle section of the quilt embodies the notion that musicians carry their music inside of themselves wherever they travel. This belief is important particularly after the hurricane since many of the musicians abandoned New Orleans after the hurricane and resettled in
neighboring states. These sites of displacement are pictured within the lower half of the quilt while the floor water that connects the upper and lower halves of the quilt acts as a path to the other states for the musicians to follow. The far left section illustrates two musicians attempting to keep their heads above water as their instruments float next to them.