Carol Wilcox is an artistic quilter that witnessed her grandmother, other relatives and friends, gather to make unique pieces. They used what they had on hand in their homes on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Sewing was often her family’s social and cultural activity. She states her process for quilting is a creative journey and it is as important as the end product. She did not go to a special school as sewing was a part of her family’s everyday life back to the time of buffalo robes.

Currently, Carol willingly shares her techniques and experiences; she teaches at the Artspace Center on Pine Ridge. She even extends lessons for those who stop by her home. “Quilts and blankets replaced the buffalo robes not just for warmth and comfort but also in honoring ceremonies and as special gifts in general. Wrapping a quilt around a person is to honor them and acknowledge those that have gone before. It is a present with depth, an offering of creativity and culture along with acknowledgment to ancestors.” This is why she prefers to make hers in traditional ways and by hand even though there are machines that can do all of it.

She credits the missionaries that arrived and started teaching quilting on the reservation. When they showed the lone star on a quilt, it was readily accepted by the Lakota and other Northern Plains Tribes as they identify as the “Star People.” For this reason, Carol specifically named this collection “Bright Star Nation.”

Prices for the quilts and carriers can be obtained by contacting The Journey Museum at (605) 394-6923. Purchase inquiries after the closing of the exhibition can be directed to the artist at cjwilcox@goldenwest.net. The Sioux Indian Museum, managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Indian Arts and Crafts Board, is located in the Journey Museum, 222 New York Street, Rapid City, SD 57701. For admission fees and hours of operation please call (605) 394-6923.