"Bukran Women" ©2000
Art Quilt by Studio Artist Dottie Gantt 

Artist Comment/Statement:  A friend's gift was the inspiration for "Bukarn Women".  The two exquisite hand-embroidered white panels were a gift from Linda Poteet, who was working in the Congo village of Bukarn.  Creating this piece presented many challenges to me:  How to keep the beauty of the hand embroidered panels intact - How to be able to view both the back and the front of each panel - How to represent the Congo using colors, prints, and embellishments - and How to honor the wonderful talents of the unknown women artists of Bukarn.

Note:  The hand embroidery on the back of each panel is as beautiful as the front.  They were created free hand, without any pattern.  To me the panels are quite exquisite  for their beauty and workmanship. 

Size 54" w X 43" h

Techniques:  Pieced and free motion quilted by machine.  Surface embellishments of couching, fabric paint, and hand beading of glass beads, seashells, and cork fringe.



Materials:  Fabrics used were commercial cottons and African cotton fabrics.  Rayon, cotton, chenille, and monofilament/nylon threads were used for the free-motion machine quilting and machine piecing.  Embellishments of seashells, cork fringe, and glass beads were added by hand.  Polyester batting was used.

Detail View