Senate Resolution 11

A RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE RECOGNITION OF THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE TO MISSISSIPPI TRADITIONAL ARTISANS THE TUTWILER QUILTERS AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2021 GOVERNOR'S ARTS AWARD FOR ARTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

WHEREAS, the Governor's Arts Awards Program has announced its 2021 recipients, which includes the Mississippi Tutwiler Quilters for Arts in the Community; and

WHEREAS, established in 1988, Governor's Arts Awards are given to individuals and organizations to recognize outstanding work in the artistic disciplines, as well as arts-based community development and arts patronage in Mississippi. The awards are presented in partnership with the Governor's Office and signify the important relationship between government and the arts; and

WHEREAS, the renowned Tutwiler Quilters program started at the Tutwiler Community Education Center more than 30 years ago by religious sisters working in the area to improve health outcomes in the underserved community; and

WHEREAS, the quilters often take a traditional pattern and improvise, based on the fabric provided to them. One Tutwiler quilter says that the color or patterns of the raw fabric "speaks to her," which helps determine the designs of her quilts. Owners of their beautiful quilts value the artistic excellence of the hand-quilted items created in the Southern African-American tradition; and

WHEREAS, while this art form preserves traditions indigenous to the region, their quilted pieces include blankets, potholders and tote bags. Among other items are beautiful, marketable commodities treasured by collectors around the country and the world; and

WHEREAS, the Tutwiler Quilters program is a cottage industry. Quilters work from home, at their own pace, with materials provided to them by the Tutwiler Community Education Center. The Tutwiler Quilters program was started by Sister Maureen Delaney after she saw Mary Sue Robinson making a quilt. Ms. Robinson is considered the matriarch of the program; and

WHEREAS, quilters are paid for each item upon completion. The Tutwiler Community Education Center sells the items at the center, on their website, and at quilt and craft shows across the country. Through countless stitches and yards of material, more than 30,000 items have been made and sold since 1988; and

WHEREAS, the quilters and their artworks first received a national boost when CBS produced a feature on them in 1999 for the program 60 Minutes; and

WHEREAS, the Tutwiler Quilters organization, now under the direction of Melanie Powell, is a member of the Craftsmen's Guild of Mississippi. Every piece offered for sale goes through a rigorous quality control system led by longtime quilter Mary Ann Mackey at the Tutwiler Center. Many women from the community have put their needlework and sewing skills to work for the program and have enjoyed the economic benefits, along with the pride of knowing their works are beloved around the world; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we pay tribute and express appreciation for the talent of a world-class Mississippi quilting group who has made Mississippi a better place and exemplifies the quilting art traditions of our great state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby extend the recognition of the Mississippi Senate to the Tutwiler Quilters, the recipient of the 2021 Governor's Arts Award for Arts in the Community, and extend our congratulations to these talented quilters on this auspicious occasion.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the Tutwiler Quilters as part of the Governor's Arts Awards presentation, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.