"This important quilt serves as a testament to the significance of the art of African American quilting," said Andrew Walker, assistant director for curatorial affairs and curator of American art. "We are pleased to welcome this work of art into the collection."
Pine Burr Quilt was on view at the Museum in 2006 as part of the textile installation African American Quilts: A Storied Tradition. Other works in the installation included an original Whig Rose quilt made by slave labor on a plantation near Richmond, Kentucky around 1860, and an award quilt created in honor of Benberry by Faith Ringgold, a renowned artist known for her painted story quilts. In 2004, Benberry received the quilt as part of a lifetime achievement award for her distinguished scholarship from the Anyone Can Fly Foundation, an organization established by Ringgold to aid African Americans in the arts.
Benberry's contributions to quilting span nearly 50 years. Throughout her distinguished career, she has published numerous books and articles that document the innovative and influential research she has completed on the history and practice of quilting. In April 2006, the Museum honored Benberry with a tribute the African American quilt making tradition.
"We appreciate Cuesta Benberry's generous gift to the Museum and recognize her outstanding contributions to the advancement of this art form," said Walker.
The Saint Louis Art Museum is one of the nation's leading comprehensive art museums with collections that include works of art of exceptional quality from virtually every culture and time period. Areas of notable depth include Oceanic art, pre-Columbian art, ancient Chinese bronzes and European and American art of the late 19th and 20th centuries, with particular strengths in 20th century German art. The Museum offers a full range of exhibitions and educational programming generated independently and in collaboration with local, national, and international partners. -- www.stlouis.art.museum
