A Black History Month exhibit is set to be on display Friday at the Gulfport Arts Center. This exhibit will feature Black artists, quilters, authors, and more to highlight the importance of preserving art and history.
Margo Hines, one quilter out of the artists to be featured, is reminded of why she fell in love with the art of quilting and knitting, through every stitch.
“The quilting part started when I grew up with my grandmother and she and her sisters would quilt,” Hines said. “They would just be laughing and talking and I’ll be around on the floor and when they have their little secret stuff they would run me out of the room, of course, that made it more interesting,” she said.
Hines’ interest and love for needlework art grew over the years.
“The love for quilting was developed when I was like 6 or 7 and that’s like in the 50s,” she laughed.
It wasn’t until the 1980s, she truly started investing time in her craft, creating quilts, sweaters, scarves, and more piece by piece, carefully choosing her material.
“My fabric is like an addition,” Hines said. “When I go to a fabric shop I have to leave at least with one piece and 90% of the time I don’t know what I’m going to do with it, but I know I’m in love with it,” said Hines. “So I take it home and I’ll say that will go good with that. So I kind of set them aside and place them in areas where I’ll say those will fit good together,” she said.
Hines said all patterns and colors exemplify culture and identity from generation to generation. And it takes several hours, days, and even months to complete.
Hines laughed and said, “I made a joke about that sweater, I said it took me nine months and I could’ve had a baby in the time I made that one.”
We asked Hines how it makes her feel to know she’s bringing culture and history back through art like this, and she answered,
“Well, it makes me feel good because I would like to see the younger generation pick up on these things.” She added, “It kind of connects you to your past. It’s very relaxing and the world is moving so fast, you need something that you enjoy to slow you down and take your mind off what’s going on.”
Credit: WLOX
