Cuesta’s interest in quilting began with the study of quilt block patterns, when she was serving as
a teacher and school librarian. Her great research abilities brought her to the attention of
Patricia Almy’s magazine, Nimble Treasures where many of her articles appeared.
She produced so many articles that she requested some be printed without her by-line. Later
articles by Cuesta were found in Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine and in Quilters’ Journal. Her
research is so vast that in nearly every quilt book today, Cuesta Benberry will be quoted in the
text or her name will appear in the bibliography.
Her focus on African American quilts and quilters led to a perfect paper, “Afro-American Women
and Quilts,” for the first symposium of a new organization, the American Quilt Study Group, in
1980. Later she curated several exhibits of African American quilts, accompanied by
publications: Always There: The African American Presence in American Quilt (1992) and A
Piece of My Soul: Quilts by Black Arkansans (2000). Her only quilt, a sampler, also reflects her
research, for it is made up of blocks known to have appeared in earlier African American quilts.
In 1997, she joined Honoree Joyce Gross in curating an exhibit that was accompanied by a
seminar, “20th Century Quilts: 1900-1970: Women Make Their Mark” at the Museum of the
American Quilter’s Society, Paducah, Kentucky.
a teacher and school librarian. Her great research abilities brought her to the attention of
Patricia Almy’s magazine, Nimble Treasures where many of her articles appeared.
She produced so many articles that she requested some be printed without her by-line. Later
articles by Cuesta were found in Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine and in Quilters’ Journal. Her
research is so vast that in nearly every quilt book today, Cuesta Benberry will be quoted in the
text or her name will appear in the bibliography.
Her focus on African American quilts and quilters led to a perfect paper, “Afro-American Women
and Quilts,” for the first symposium of a new organization, the American Quilt Study Group, in
1980. Later she curated several exhibits of African American quilts, accompanied by
publications: Always There: The African American Presence in American Quilt (1992) and A
Piece of My Soul: Quilts by Black Arkansans (2000). Her only quilt, a sampler, also reflects her
research, for it is made up of blocks known to have appeared in earlier African American quilts.
In 1997, she joined Honoree Joyce Gross in curating an exhibit that was accompanied by a
seminar, “20th Century Quilts: 1900-1970: Women Make Their Mark” at the Museum of the
American Quilter’s Society, Paducah, Kentucky.
| Cuesta Benberry (1923-2007) |
Quilt historian, author, Always There: The
African-American Presence in Marion Quilts. Inducted in
1983 at the Continental Quilting Congress, Arlington, VA.
Research Associate: MarySue Hannan
African-American Presence in Marion Quilts. Inducted in
1983 at the Continental Quilting Congress, Arlington, VA.
Research Associate: MarySue Hannan
Anyone Can Fly Foundation
Honoree Cuesta Benberry of St. Louis, Missouri, received the Anyone Can Fly Foundation Award
in August, presented by quilt artist Faith Ringgold, President of the Foundation’s Board of
Trustees. Their mission is “to expand the art establishment’s canon in include artists of the
African Diaspora and to introduce the Great Masters of African American Art and their art
traditions to kids as well as adult audiences.” Cuesta was thrilled and surprised, as this is the
first award they have given to someone who did not apply to it.
Link: http://www.artsnet.org/anyonecanfly/
American Folk Art Museum
On October 1 and 2, 2004, Cuesta was honored by the American Folk Art Museum at their Quilt
Weekend in New York City. Doris Bowman of the Smithsonian Institution, Amelia Peck of the
Metropolitan Museum of Art, and quilt artists Michael Cummings and Kyra Hicks reflected on
Cuesta’s influence at a roundtable discussion. Cuesta remarked when she heard the news,
“Between shock and surprise and tears welling up in me, I am a mixture of smiling and crying at
the same time.” Cuesta donated her extensive library and collection of archival materials to the
museum’s Shirley K. Schlafer Library. This significant gift compliments the museum’s collection
of more than 500 historic quilts.
American Folk Art Museum
45 West 53rd Street
New York, NY 10019
(212) 265-1040
info@folkartmuseum.org
http://www.folkartmuseum.org/
Honoree Cuesta Benberry of St. Louis, Missouri, received the Anyone Can Fly Foundation Award
in August, presented by quilt artist Faith Ringgold, President of the Foundation’s Board of
Trustees. Their mission is “to expand the art establishment’s canon in include artists of the
African Diaspora and to introduce the Great Masters of African American Art and their art
traditions to kids as well as adult audiences.” Cuesta was thrilled and surprised, as this is the
first award they have given to someone who did not apply to it.
Link: http://www.artsnet.org/anyonecanfly/
American Folk Art Museum
On October 1 and 2, 2004, Cuesta was honored by the American Folk Art Museum at their Quilt
Weekend in New York City. Doris Bowman of the Smithsonian Institution, Amelia Peck of the
Metropolitan Museum of Art, and quilt artists Michael Cummings and Kyra Hicks reflected on
Cuesta’s influence at a roundtable discussion. Cuesta remarked when she heard the news,
“Between shock and surprise and tears welling up in me, I am a mixture of smiling and crying at
the same time.” Cuesta donated her extensive library and collection of archival materials to the
museum’s Shirley K. Schlafer Library. This significant gift compliments the museum’s collection
of more than 500 historic quilts.
American Folk Art Museum
45 West 53rd Street
New York, NY 10019
(212) 265-1040
info@folkartmuseum.org
http://www.folkartmuseum.org/
| Cuesta Benberry Receives Awards |
| Click on the links below for memorials to Cuesta Benberry |