"The Baptist Town Quilt" Reception and Exhibition

The Kukua Institute will host a quilt exhibit for “The Baptist Town Quilt,” a large-scale appliqued art quilt that tells a story of Baptist Town, a historic and predominantly African American neighborhood in Greenwood, MS. Events for the unveiling of the quilt include a reception, exhibition, and quilter talk by the quiltmaker, Patricia J. Gaston, who was born in Baptist Town and grew up there in the 1960s. The opening reception is Friday, February 20, 2026, at 5 PM; the quilter talk is Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 2 PM; and the exhibition is Saturday, February 21, 2026, 10 AM – 5 PM.

In 2020, the first visions of the “Baptist Town Quilt” began with construction, art, and scrap paper. Her initial idea was to create the four neighborhood blocks that her mother and father allowed her to venture out to as a child. After seeing a map of the city, its layout, and her neighborhood, she decided to design the project as the entire community as she remembered it in the 1960s. After six years, the quilt was completed.

The perspective of the quilt is a 1960s aerial view made from a collection of fabrics that Patricia had in her home and bought from the fabric store. One special piece comes from one of her mother’s quilt tops that is at least 40 years old. The quilt is approximately 105” x 90” and is hand- and machine- stitched.

As early as six years old, Patricia was introduced to quilting by her mother. In the early years, their quilts had practical uses as bed covers and were often gifted to family members as functional and utilitarian. Fabric for these quilts often came from discarded family clothes, neighbors who were seamstresses, and retail stores. Her first quilt was a mixture of pieces of fabric given by her mother that Patricia made into a full-size quilt. “I gave it away as a gift,” she said, “which did not make my mother happy.” But the giving made Patricia happy.

The community of Baptist Town was close-knit and historically and predominantly populated by African Americans in Greenwood, Mississippi. According to the research compiled for the community’s Mississippi Blues Trail Marker, the neighborhood was established in the 1800s. Located in the Delta region, it was known for its farming and production of cotton and oil. Patricia sees the “Baptist Town Quilt” as an extension of the gift that her parents, siblings, and her community gave to her. “It was woven into my DNA decades ago,” she says, “and I hope that this quilt will keep weaving that same community spirit of love and legacy for decades to come.”

All events are free and open to the public.