Cathedral Window Quilt

Unknown artist

Brightly colored African batik and printed fabrics are set within a matrix of black cloth, rendering vividly the effect of a stained-glass window. Viola Canady, a gifted quilter, often applied her skill to spiritual themes, and used quilting to build community. She founded the Daughters of Dorcas and Sons, a Washington, DC quilting guild that taught and shared a love of quilting in local schools, hospitals, and civic centers. This piece visually honors the communities that form around African American religious practices and quilting traditions.