THE LYNCHING TREES

The project goal is to design and make 60-65 quilts that represent the states of the United States where lynching occurred (reportedly 46 states, but perhaps all). Using the state tree of each state as a visual image, I construct a quilt or quilts for each state. The number of quilts depends on the numbers of persons per state reported as lynching victims.

The front of each quilt is a representation of the state tree with leaves, pine needles, or palm frond (Florida and South Carolina), using fabric piecing and appliqué and/or embroidery, quilting, pen drawing on fabric, and objects, including objects collected from trees. Each leaf or pine needle or frond represents a person who was lynched. On the back of each quilt, I write the names of the persons. All states have unknown or unnamed persons. Finally, I put a fabric map of the counties of each state -- with the number of persons lynched in each county – on the reverse side of one quilt.