'In Her Mind’s Eye' on view at Cape Ann Museum

Intricate quilted works by Doris Elizabeth Prouty (1947-2020), a talented self-taught African American quilter who lived in Gloucester for 40 years, will be exhibited at Cape Ann Museum’s Janet & William Ellery James Center, beginning June 11 through July 31. The exhibition is called In Her Mind’s Eye.

Working in vibrant colors and incorporating an array of shapes and patterns, Prouty’s quilts are founded in the traditions of African quilt makers and vividly capture scenes and stories about her life and community on Cape Ann. Beginning in the 1980s with traditional block patterns, Prouty moved on to applique quilts which are at once functional and beautiful. With this transition, her work became increasingly complex as she explored narratives of social and climate justice, feminism, family, and Black history.