Generations is a collaboration between generative artist Anna Lucia and the quilters of Gee's Bend. Anna Lucia developed an algorithm to craft a series of digital quilts inspired by the iconic patchworks of the Quilters of Gee's Bend. 

 In the 19th century, enslaved plantation workers of Gee's Bend, Alabama, crafted one of the most important living legacies in American art history. Isolated from outside influences by an Alabama River cul-de-sac, the community incubated a staggeringly unique found fabric quilting tradition echoing African textile patterns. These stunning abstract designs would become widely regarded as modern art masterpieces, defiantly voicing a rich intergenerational narrative. Gee's Bend quilts have been collected extensively by prominent museums, inspiring high-profile homage from official First Lady portraiture to acclaimed runway shows. 

 Four quilters, Louisiana Bendolph, Loretta Petway Bennett, Essie Bendoplhe Pettway, and the estate of Lucy Pettway-namely her daughter and fellow quilter Mary Margaret- shared their process with Anna Lucia. Who, in turn, created an algorithm to generate digital quilts that share key elements with the source yet are unique and surprising in their own way. The quilters collaborated on curating the 500 unique digital quilts that make up the Generations collection. 

 [Collector’s Rights](https://ipfs.io/ipfs/Qmb4a2H7Y4CJq53Qs2E2tKF4SJRuUnTvfqho1kvRvLzfhJ/COLLECTOR'S%20RIGHTS%20ANNA%20LUCIA%20x%20GEE'S%20BEND.pdf) 

[High Resolution Image](https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmfMr3GDsPSQ2GqxU1SkwoZRyWH1ZaXoVfJaPFgxRNXtPo/Lucy_951857_high-ress_.png)

Generation 143

Horizontal and vertical threads weave together guided by a punching card generated at the moment of transaction. Often randomness distorts the orderly woven pattern. Thread colours are picked from a single colour palette. 10% of the sales from this drop will be donated to charity: water to bring clean and safe water to people in need.

Loom #0

This Made All The Difference

Perhaps This Is The Better Claim 

The One Less Traveled By

The artist describes the work as 'patches of code hand stitched together; for loops, rectangles, if statements, and randomness,' referencing the recurring theme in Anna Lucia's work that seeks the tension between computer science concepts and traditionally feminine crafts, such as textile work. It suggests that working with code has a material character for the artist and can be likened to craftsmanship. Using "hand stitched" may imply an element of following intuition in the construction of the work rather than following a systematic structure or technique. These ideas come together upon examination of the variety of outputs where rectangles overlap in a balancing act between following a strict grid and improvisational placement.

Patched Paradise #96

Patched Paradise #8

Patched Paradise #6

Patched Paradise #31

Patches of code hand stitched together; for loops, rectangles, if statements, and randomness.

Patched Paradise #33

Patched Paradise

Tread Carefully

Foundation

Loom #196

Loom #195

Loom by Anna Lucia

Glaciations is a generative system exploring the 2d Fourier transform of basic geometric shapes to create dream-like compositions.

Glaciations #1

Glaciations #33

Glaciations by Anna Lucia

Anna Lucia contrasts traditional references of women's rich and detailed craftworks with her own reductive and minimal processes, creating generative artworks that blend the digital nature of their creation with a celebration of their decorative roots.

This series of generative artworks specifically explores historical needlework samplers – pieces of cross-stitching often created to showcase needlework skills and talents or used as a reference for future embroidery, with patterns sewn randomly onto the fabric. For *33 million*, Anna Lucia interprets the decorative patterns commonly found on these samplers into algorithmic works that simultaneously construct and deconstruct decorative aesthetics, transforming them into rhythmic digital artifacts.

Each piece is individually selected by the artist, leveraging the algorithmic randomness of the art's code to rapidly explore different aesthetics and possibilities for novel patterns. For this series, she developed additional software that translates the digital works into custom patterns for machine stitching. Each artwork in this series can take the form of embroidery on stretched canvas – reducing barriers between craft, art, and automation. 

This work is created with p5.js, Processing, and PEmbroider.

Digital artwork + embroidery on stretched canvas \
22.9 x 33 x 3.8cm / 9 x 13 x 1.5in


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