Barbara Gathers

Artist Statement

I probably saw the photo that inspired this quilt, for the first time, more than thirty years ago. This horrible vision hit my stomach like a lightening bolt. I was filled with disgust and terror. As the years have gone by, and so many other horrible realizations about the plight of our people in the U.S.A. have become apparent, I found that seeing this image did not affect me the same way. I became less reactive and more matter of fact, like, ?Oh yeah, that...?
I created this quilt because I decided that I should never become complacent or indifferent about these reminders of the pain, cruelty, and terrorism that have been imposed upon people of African descent.
In order to recreate the image, I had to study the lashes. The direction from which they were inflicted, the intention of the one who was wielding the whip, and the fact that there were not only scars from the strike of the whip, but there were keloids. This suggests the possibility that he had been beaten on many occasions when the skin from the previous beating had not yet healed.
I researched his story and learned that he was a husband, and of course, he was somebody's son named Gordon.
May we never forget those who were persecuted for no other reason than being born with melanated skin.
I decided to add music to the quilt that would set the mood for the viewing of it. There is a music file embedded in the quilt that plays when a button is pressed.

Barbara Brown Gathers
Quilt completed on June 26, 2024