The Weatherspoon Museum at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro currently has an exhibit of African American quilts from the Southern U.S.
I went with friends recently and we enjoyed the quilts. Here are a few of my favorites.
Star Quilt, by Emma Russell, 1978
I particularly liked this next one because the label said, “Elizabeth Talford Scott was a recognized quilter who ate mischief for breakfast, just like her daughter Joyce”. Don’t you love the idea of eating mischief for breakfast?
Monsters, Dragons, and Flies, by Elizabeth T. Scott and Joyce J. Scott, 1982.
And I love the way some of the lighter colored pieces kind of disappear into the background in this next one.
Patchwork Stars Quilt, made by Decia Scott and quilted by Annie Dennis, 1984
Blue Log Cabin by Geraldine Nash, 2007
All Star, pieced by DeElla Pringle and quilted by Virginia Thompson, about 2000
I wondered about this next one, which appears to be bound on only 3 sides. It’s wonky enough that I was able to peek behind the right edge without touching it, and that edge was turned to the back and stitched down instead of having binding!
Improvisational Strip Quilt by Mabel Williams, 1968
Folk Scenes Quilt by Mary Mayfair Matthews, 1992
And isn’t this next one unusual? I never would have thought of this design!
“P” Quilt by Mary K. Williams, 1986
Finally, my favorite. I totally would have made this quilt (if I’d thought of it).
Triangle Within a Square by Christina Neely, 2007.
A lot of things about these quilts make the usual “improv” modern quilts look stilted and over-planned. The quilts in this exhibit seem so free by comparison. I think it’s another hint to me to “lighten up”.
Admission to the museum is free, and if you live in the Triad area this exhibit is worth the trip.
Zippy Quilts 
Thank you for the quilt show! I agree with your observation about freewheeling versus planned improvisation. And do consider making a version of that quilt, whether in fruit-juicy colors like her or a different colorway (midcentury turquoise, white, black with a pop of gray and maybe a pop of pink….).
oooooo, great idea! Thanks!
Oh, what a treat. Thank you for sharing some of the quilts you saw at the museum. They do have a freshness and spontaneous feel to them. I also love the triangle within a square design. Think I will also try to eat a little mischief in the mornings!
It was, indeed, a treat and I feel so lucky to have that museum near where I live.