2026 Auburn Studio Project: Gatsy Rice
As Auburn University’s art museum, The Jule is dedicated to advancing art education through outreach initiatives like Auburn Studio Project, an annual collaboration between the museum, the City of Auburn and East Samford School.
This year’s collaboration provided local seventh graders with a remarkable opportunity to engage in the arts while exploring local history in a hands-on manner. Inspired by the quilts featured in “Sew Their Names: Quilting, Creativity and Activism,” students participated in a visit with local historian Sam Hendrix, who shared the significant story of Gatsy Rice. Born into slavery and later becoming an influential business leader in Auburn, Rice was the first African American to receive a name marker in Pine Hill Cemetery. Students then visited Pine Hill to document local history and reflect on the importance of names in preserving the past. They selected photographs from their visit to print onto adhesive-backed fabric, resulting in a collaborative quilt that honors local history and fosters a deeper understanding of our cultural heritage.
Explore past Auburn Studio Projects:
