The opening was great fun - food, wine, and people to share the excitement of the evening. Marilyn Zoidis, Jeanie Miller, Dana Friis-Hansen (Director and CEO, GRAM) What a delight.The personal nature of the memories and tales of Susana Hunter’s quilting had the audience’s rapt attention. After Jeanie’s masterful presentation at the GRAM exhibition opening on the quilts and the related materials she has collected, she conducted a question and answer session with Tommie, his wife, Susie, and the audience.
In this collection, The Henry Ford holds a remarkable piece of African American and women’s history.ĭuring the process of acquiring the collection, Jeanie had developed a strong relationship with Tommie Hunter, grandson of Susana, who had lived with her as a young boy and with whom Susana lived in her later years. Such stories are elusive and very difficult to collect and preserve. She understood its value, and the way it captures rich stories of a distinctive time and place. She worked with GRAM curatorial and education staff and shared not only her knowledge, but her passion for this extraordinary collection. Jeanie Miller had secured the initial collection and then painstakingly researched its rich history. Hunter house as it was in 2007 (John Metz) Our textile conservator, Fran Faile, worked with GRAM staff to ensure that these significant pieces were handled and installed according to museum standards. In collaboration with the GRAM, we loaned 22 quilts from the collection, along with personal objects that belonged to Susana. Was I ever impressed! These quilts are a stunning representation of artistry and the daily life of an African American woman living in the difficult conditions of rural Alabama as late as the 1970s. The Henry Ford recently loaned part of its collection to the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) for its exhibition, “The Improvisational Quilts of Susana Allen Hunter.” On May 9, I attended the opening with Marc Greuther, chief curator, and Jeanine Head Miller, curator of domestic life. But, I was not quite prepared for the true beauty and historical value of the collection until I got to see the quilts displayed. I had seen photos of the exhibition that The Henry Ford mounted in 2008 and had glimpsed the quilts in storage.
Since joining The Henry Ford in 2010, I had been hearing about the wonderful collection of quilts made by Susana Allen Hunter.