Gee’s Bend to hold grand opening event for its newest visitor attraction
Visitors will find live quilting demonstrations, porch storytelling, local food and handmade works rooted in the Black Belt community’s renowned tradition.
Gee’s Bend has announced the grand opening of Willie Quill’s Quilt Studio & Pantry, the Wilcox County community’s newest visitor attraction and the first artist-run quilt studio in Gee’s Bend to regularly welcome the public.
The grand opening is set for Saturday, July 18, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will feature quilt sales, storytelling, local food and children’s activities.
Owned by acclaimed Gee’s Bend quilter Emma Pettway and her husband, Melvin Pettway Sr., Willie Quill’s offers visitors “an authentic place to experience the living tradition of Gee’s Bend quilting while enjoying the warmth and hospitality that have long defined this historic Alabama community,” Gee’s Bend said in a press release.
Located beside the Gee’s Bend Ferry Landing in Boykin on the banks of the Alabama River, Willie Quill’s features Emma Pettway’s working quilt studio, live quilting demonstrations, handmade quilts and gifts for purchase, cold drinks, snacks, locally baked treats and “a porch where guests can relax and watch the ferry cross the river,” the destination said.
The new landmark is named in honor of Willie Quill Pettway, Melvin Pettway Sr.’s father, who was a farmer, ferry operator, civil rights advocate and community leader who promoted Gee’s Bend’s self-sufficiency and dignity. The studio celebrates family, craftsmanship and the stories woven into every quilt, according to the press release.
“This is a place to truly slow down and experience the artistry and hospitality of Gee’s Bend,” Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association Director Pam Swanner said. “It’s the perfect place to pull up a chair, sip something cold, enjoy a locally made treat and experience the beauty, creativity and community that make Gee’s Bend extraordinary.”
The grand opening celebration will include a full day of family-friendly activities, including quilt sales, studio tours, quilting demonstrations, storytelling, children’s activities and local food. Melvin Pettway Jr. plans to grill bratwursts and hamburgers served alongside seasonal homemade sides.
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., visitors are invited to participate in Porch Stories, a Visit Gee’s Bend-sponsored storytelling and family activity series centered on the theme “Surviving the Season the Old Way.” Community members will share memories of growing up in Gee’s Bend while children and families participate in hands-on activities exploring local traditions, seasonal knowledge and everyday life in the community.
Grand opening guests also are encouraged to explore the community and view quilts displayed on clotheslines in neighborhood yards, one of Gee’s Bend’s most beloved traditions. The quilts serve as an open invitation for visitors to stop, admire the work, meet the artists and learn firsthand about the generations-old quilting tradition that has made Gee’s Bend internationally renowned.
“More than a gift shop or studio, Willie Quill’s Quilt Studio & Pantry is a gathering place where visitors can connect with local artists, hear family stories, and experience the rich cultural heritage that continues to thrive in Gee’s Bend,” the destination said.
“For anyone seeking an authentic Alabama cultural experience, Willie Quill’s Quilt Studio & Pantry offers a warm welcome and a front-row seat to one of America’s most celebrated quilting traditions in the heart of Alabama’s Black Belt,” Swanner said.
The Black Belt includes 23 counties: Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Crenshaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Russell, Sumter, Tuscaloosa and Wilcox.