In an article written for The Post Brookhaven, GA, July 7, 2017 —by Emily Morris, she describes how every quilt tells a story —“A burst of colors, upbeat strains of R&B music, and the cordial atmosphere of new and old acquaintances mingling . . . Phyllis Stephens: Story Quilts at Oglethorpe University Museum of Art on June 24th, 2017. The label of each work reads “every quilt tells a story,” and Phyllis Stephens’ quilts tell the story of her craft over time.” “The compilation of works in the exhibition reflected an evolution of style as well as information gathered over time to affect Stephens’ subject matter leading to her role as both artist and advocate of civil rights.” - Emily Morris Emily Morris writes about Stephens thirty-five years as a quilter and the museum exhibit that featured her earlier work such as A Little Exposure, produced in 1998 as well as her recently commissioned pieces of 2017, Silent Enforcer and others. “The compilation of works in the exhibition reflected an evolution of style as well as information gathered over time to affect Stephens’ subject matter leading to her role as both artist and advocate of civil rights.” Morris give us insights into Stevens’ artwork “The African American experience plays a major role in Stephens’ work, and many of the themes of her story quilts highlight close-knit family ties, perseverance in the face of adversity, domestic life, and Christian faith. The domestic and family themes recall memories of Stephens’ time among her family in Athens, Georgia, where she was born. Although she moved with her parents to Connecticut at six months, where she lived until adulthood, she eventually returned to Georgia which she considers her home.” “Years in New England were punctuated by summers with family in Athens, where Stephens, a fifth-generation quilter, especially enjoyed taking part in quilting circles. . . While 7 Stephens
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