Gee’s Bend, a tiny town nestled into the Alabama River and almost completely populated by the descendents of slaves, has a thriving tradition of making some of the most stunning, remarkable quilts around. The striking patterns and bold use of color blur the boundaries between folk and contemporary art.

Take a close-up look at the amazing quilts that are produced in Gee’s Bend, and listen to Mary Lee Bendolph, a quilter from Gee’s Bend, as she describes life in the small town and the community that gives rise to these quilts.