I visited Selma as well as nearby Gee's Bend, aka Boykin, which is in Wilcox County, which offers a vivid illustration that, while things have gotten somewhat better in that part of the world, they are not all the way better. To wit: Gee's Bend, which is known for the unique and beautiful work of its quilters, is situated in a bend of the Alabama River, which separates it from the county seat of Camden. Gee's Bend is 95% black. In order to vote, the people of Gee's Bend take the ferry to Camden, which makes the trip 8 miles versus 38 miles to the nearest bridge and back. Unfortunately, somehow, the ferry frequently goes out of service right around election time. There's a lot of work still to do when it comes to equity in Alabama (and the broader South), and it is places like the Peace and Justice Memorial that remind us that we can make a difference, despite the odds stacked against... peace and justice.
I did not know about the ferry in Gee's Bend! I wonder how absentee ballots have changed/not changed. There was a Gee's Bend quilt in the art gallery at Legacy--I should have mentioned how you also walk out through an art gallery. It's all so thoughtful. I loved Selma's murals.
All I know is that we were there in advance of the 2020 election, and the ferry was out, and we were told that this was a common occurrence in advance of elections.
I love the pop-up museum idea! Here are some (much less inspired!) ideas for kids and museums that have worked for us. They might be too scavenger-hunt-y but they were fun:
1) lean into the kids' interests whatever they may be. On a trip to many art museums in France when our kids were 7 and 10, we did searches for bare butts (there were lots!). They loved the idea that they could search for and photo them. And that they were art. I've never seen those gorgeous marble statues in the same way since.
2) a friend who is an artist recommended getting gradated colour strips that paint stores give out and then getting kids to match the colours to what they find in the museum.
3) our kids also really loved drawing what they saw.
Belle, I'm so sorry to hear that you got Covid. I flew home from Italy on an 8.5 hour flight yesterday and was shocked that EVERYONE on the plane cheered when the flight attendant said they could take off their masks. And everyone took off their masks except my husband and me and two other people in our row. It supports your idea that we do what those around us are doing and I think our little row of four mask wearers felt supported in the sea of the non-masked. And I could understand why others took their masks off--it sounds like it's fine since it's a new law. Which then comes back to education . . .
I love the idea of searching for bare butts--stealing that one the next time we go to a museum. The color strips are a great idea too. And I hope you made it through your travel without getting exposed or sick!
Oh, and I forgot to say: we'll share the embroidery on Friday!
I visited Selma as well as nearby Gee's Bend, aka Boykin, which is in Wilcox County, which offers a vivid illustration that, while things have gotten somewhat better in that part of the world, they are not all the way better. To wit: Gee's Bend, which is known for the unique and beautiful work of its quilters, is situated in a bend of the Alabama River, which separates it from the county seat of Camden. Gee's Bend is 95% black. In order to vote, the people of Gee's Bend take the ferry to Camden, which makes the trip 8 miles versus 38 miles to the nearest bridge and back. Unfortunately, somehow, the ferry frequently goes out of service right around election time. There's a lot of work still to do when it comes to equity in Alabama (and the broader South), and it is places like the Peace and Justice Memorial that remind us that we can make a difference, despite the odds stacked against... peace and justice.
I did not know about the ferry in Gee's Bend! I wonder how absentee ballots have changed/not changed. There was a Gee's Bend quilt in the art gallery at Legacy--I should have mentioned how you also walk out through an art gallery. It's all so thoughtful. I loved Selma's murals.
All I know is that we were there in advance of the 2020 election, and the ferry was out, and we were told that this was a common occurrence in advance of elections.
The quits - and the quilters - are amazing.
Oof. Agreed about the quilts! Mamie and I were just talking about what to do with a replica Gee's Bend quilt she has.
I really wish we had had the opportunity to visit Gee’s Bend on this trip!
Me too, Karen! I didn't know that Gee's Bend was so close!
Me, neither. ☹️
I love the pop-up museum idea! Here are some (much less inspired!) ideas for kids and museums that have worked for us. They might be too scavenger-hunt-y but they were fun:
1) lean into the kids' interests whatever they may be. On a trip to many art museums in France when our kids were 7 and 10, we did searches for bare butts (there were lots!). They loved the idea that they could search for and photo them. And that they were art. I've never seen those gorgeous marble statues in the same way since.
2) a friend who is an artist recommended getting gradated colour strips that paint stores give out and then getting kids to match the colours to what they find in the museum.
3) our kids also really loved drawing what they saw.
Belle, I'm so sorry to hear that you got Covid. I flew home from Italy on an 8.5 hour flight yesterday and was shocked that EVERYONE on the plane cheered when the flight attendant said they could take off their masks. And everyone took off their masks except my husband and me and two other people in our row. It supports your idea that we do what those around us are doing and I think our little row of four mask wearers felt supported in the sea of the non-masked. And I could understand why others took their masks off--it sounds like it's fine since it's a new law. Which then comes back to education . . .
I love the idea of searching for bare butts--stealing that one the next time we go to a museum. The color strips are a great idea too. And I hope you made it through your travel without getting exposed or sick!
your posts are always so enlightening !
also the post from Hartford!
and i am so lucky to have a beautiful quilt from Gee’s Bend!
So much good stuff in your post. For me, the best part was about Bea and Dale.