Exhibitions
GEE'S BEND NOW
Tipton-Ashe Gallery / 401 Ashe St., former Courthouse, Johnson City, TN September 2, 2026 - September 25, 2025 (Reception: September 4 6:00pm - 8:00pm)
Emma Mooney Pettway, Caster Pettway, LaShan Lewis, Polly Middleton, Lakarian Pettway, Sharon Williams
The ETSU Department of Art & Design and Slocumb Galleries in partnership with Black American Studies, Women’s Gender & Sexuality Studies and ETSU Student Activities Allocations Committee (SAAC) proudly present Gee’s Bend Now and Through the Eye of the Needle by artist and co-curator Aundra McCoy at the Tipton-Ashe Galleries from September 2 to 25, 2026. The public is invited to meet some of the artists during the opening reception on September 4, First Friday from 6 to 8 p.m., with guests of honor Mayor, Commissioner & Mrs. Greg Cox, Bravissima! Women Sponsoring the Arts and ETSU Vice President Arch. & Mrs. Jeremy Ross.
The Gee’s Bend is a Black community of quilters with distinct geometric, innovative style located at one of the river bends of Alabama. Historically, formerly enslaved communities have been geographically and culturally isolated, yet, their creative souls have triumphed over almost a century of systemic racism, disconnection and poverty. Their resilience, borne out of necessity, nurtured by aesthetic sensibilities influenced by ancestral ties and creative resourcefulness have allowed them to endure and to thrive.
During the 2000s, their collective practice has received national and international recognitions with museum collections and corporate partnerships as proof of their achievements. Decades moving forward, the third and fourth generation quilters continue to create colorful and innovative designs in fiber inspired by their maternal influences, continuing to create distinct patterns of their own imaginings. One of the community pillars, Gee’s Bend quilters Ms. Emma Mooney Pettway and daughter Lakarian Pettway will visit Johnson City during the opening reception and conduct a demo/workshop. Ms. Emma describes the joy, peace, purpose and inspiration brought by her creative practice. She shares her process starting a “quilt without a specific design in mind,” she adds, after “gathering the fabric pieces and begin arranging colors and patterns, each quilt naturally takes on a life of its own… every piece becomes a one-of-a-kind work of art that reflects my creativity, heritage, and spirit.” In parallel, Gee’s Bend and Appalachia and similar experiences of isolation, yet both have nurtured amazing creative spirits in their communities and members.
The exhibition and public engagement activities are supported by the Tennessee Arts Commission APS and ABC grants and Arts Fund from East Tennessee Foundation. There are two demo/workshops to be conducted by Ms. Emma Mooney & Lakarian Pettway on September 5, Saturday at the Tipton-Ashe Galleries & Atrium; and another by artist and exhibit co-curator Aundra McCoy at the Reece Museum, ETSU campus on the week prior to UMOJA. All events are open to the public, free of charge bur workshops require pre-registration due to limited number of seating.
The Tipton-Ashe Gallery is located at 401 Ashe St, former Courthouse on the Walnut side, Downtown Johson City. Fall 2026 gallery viewing hours are Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11am to 3 pm, Fridays 3 to 7pm, with extended hours during receptions and by appointment. For more information or to reserve a workshop spot, email exhibition co-curator Karlota Contreras-Koterbay via contrera@etsu.edu or text 423.483.3179 to receive the registration information.
