@soulsgrowndeep
Souls Grown Deep (SGD) advocates the empowerment of Black artists from the American South and fosters economic development and racial and social justice in the communities that gave rise to these artists. https://www.soulsgrowndeep.org/
On the anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery March, we share Bridge for John Lewis (2006) by Thornton Dial—a monument to courage, confrontation, and the cost of democracy.
#SoulsGrownDeep #SelmaToMontgomery
Final weeks to see From Bessemer to the Cosmos—Thornton Dial’s first UK solo exhibition—at Edel Assanti. Major works from a pivotal decade (1988–1998) trace Dial’s powerful visual language shaped by labor, history, and Southern traditions. On view for a limited time.
Front and back tell the full story. In this untitled work, Leroy Person makes process visible—where materials, structure, and construction are as essential as the image itself.
Gee’s Bend quilter Annie Square has been named to Country Living’s Design 100, recognizing makers shaping contemporary design. Grounded in community, tradition, and resourcefulness, her quilts and bags carry Gee’s Bend’s living legacy forward.
#AnnieSquare #GeesBend #CountryLivingDesign100
This work was shaped by generations of creativity rooted in place and community. Supporting Souls Grown Deep helps preserve artworks, share artists’ stories, and keep these legacies in public view—where they belong.
Donate → link in bio
#SoulsGrownDeep #PreserveBlackArt
In her variation on Wild Goose Chase, Annie Bendolph uses triangles and squares to create a design shaped by invention rather than printed patterns.
Permanent collection, Metropolitan Museum of Art. Gift of Souls Grown Deep.
Black artists from the American South are central to American art—and their legacies require care, documentation, and public access. Your support helps Souls Grown Deep preserve works, share stories, and invest in the communities that shaped this art.
Donate → link in bio
#PreserveBlackArt
Since its start, Souls Grown Deep has initiated and organized AotQ with the Gee’s Bend community. An economic impact study shows $700K+ in visitor spending and $191K+ in quilt sales to artists. In 2026, AotQ becomes fully community-owned and sustainable.
#SoulsGrownDeep #AotQ #GeesBend
On view at the River Gallery: Remembering Dinah (2024–2025), a collective quilt made by living descendants of Dinah Miller. Crafted from denim, corduroy, and cotton, it honors her legacy while tracing the continuity of Gee’s Bend quiltmaking today.
Thornton Dial understood art as a vehicle for truth. His work transforms ordinary materials into uncompromising reflections on history and lived experience.
A detail from the back of a 1930s Housetop variation quilt by Martha Pettway (1911–2005). Made from salvaged feed and flour sacks, it reflects the resourcefulness at the heart of Gee’s Bend quilting. Available through the Souls Grown Deep custom print program.
On #MLKDay, we honor the link between art and the Civil Rights Movement. This quilt by Lucy Mingo reflects a time when Gee’s Bend residents organized for voting rights and collective power. Its structure carries movement, resolve, and community strength.
Opening today in London: Thornton Dial: From Bessemer to the Cosmos at Edel Assanti (Jan 16–Mar 14, 2026). A powerful presentation tracing Dial’s work from Alabama to the cosmos—history, spirit, and material transformed.
Then & now on the Alabama River: the original Gee’s Bend cable ferry (1930s) and today’s crossing—America’s first all-electric passenger ferry. A quiet, scenic ride you have to take when you’re in the area.
New wayfinding signs are up in Gee’s Bend ✨
Designed + project-managed by SGD, with funding from the Alabama State Tourism Department. They help guide visitors while reflecting the spirit of the place itself.
Come see them in person and explore Gee’s Bend.
#GeesBend #AlabamaBlackBelt
Help us ensure that the work and stories of Southern Black artists remain central in American art. Your support fuels preservation, community programs, and economic empowerment.
Donate via link in bio.
Nearby EJI sites, including the Legacy Museum, deepen the connection. An essential stop on any pilgrimage to Gee’s Bend.
Gee’s Bend quilts welcome visitors to Montgomery’s new Elevation Hotel—featured on the entryway obelisk and along the hallway and pedestrian walkway. Artists include Loretta Pettway Bennett, Sallie Mae Pettway Mixon, Qunnie Pettway, and Essie Bendolph Pettway.
www.forbes.com/sites/chadds...
A powerful piece in @forbes.com explores the roots of Gee’s Bend quiltmaking, tracing how history, resilience, and creativity shaped one of the most influential artistic traditions in America. The article highlights the deep cultural impact of this community and its lasting legacy.
Sharing Mose Tolliver’s Low Light Christmas Tree this Christmas Day—a moment of light, color, and creativity.
Wishing you a peaceful and joyful holiday season.
#SoulsGrownDeep #MoseTolliver
“We need to think about the wonderful future… we may not see it in our lifetime, the greatness of these efforts, but it will be known.” —Lonnie Holley
A wish for reflection, hope, and creative possibility this holiday season.
#SoulsGrownDeep
Celebrating the makers of Gee’s Bend—artists, quilters, cooks, storytellers, and community leaders who shape the spirit of the Airing of the Quilts. Thank you for an extraordinary 2025.
Save the date: Oct 3, 2026.
#AiringOfTheQuilts #GeesBend #VisitGeesBend
Souls Grown Deep works to preserve and uplift the legacy of Black artists from the American South. Help us protect their stories and strengthen the communities behind this art. Donate via link in bio.
Step inside Between History and Memory: Dinah Miller’s Legacy in Gee’s Bend at the River Gallery. Curated and supported by Souls Grown Deep, the exhibition shares archival materials, family histories, and work by her descendants. Details at www.geesbend.org.
#SoulsGrownDeep #GeesBend
Help us combat the erasure of Black creativity. Souls Grown Deep preserves and shares the work of Black artists from the American South, ensuring their stories endure. Your support sustains this mission and strengthens the communities behind the art.
Save the date: the 2026 Airing of the Quilts festival is set for Saturday, October 3, 2026 in Gee’s Bend, Alabama.
More details on registration, travel, and programming coming soon via www.visitgeesbend.org.
#AiringOfTheQuilts #GeesBend
Our custom print program makes a meaningful holiday gift. Order framed prints by Dec 7 for holiday delivery.
SGD’s revenue-sharing model ensures artists or their estates receive equal profits from every print. Your purchase directly supports Black artists of the American South.
