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The Johnson Center for the Arts will host an artist’s reception for Gee’s Bend artist Marlene Bennet Jones rom 5 until 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 23.

Everyone is invited to come view her exhibit and learn more about her and her artwork.

JCA executive director, Andrea Pack, said Marlene Bennet Jones was raised on a farm in Gee’s Bend, one of 14 children.

She grew up farming and working the field with her family. Despite her difficult childhood, Marlene went on to study electronics, and became an aeronautical electrician, at Beechcraft, and Lockheed Martin.

After her retirement, she returned to Gee’s Bend to assist her ill mother. There, after 20 years, she returned to quilting.

As she sat by her mother’s bedside, Jones would layout swatches of fabric and sew them based on her intuitive reactions and those of her mother.

Pack said everyone, who views Marlene Bennett Jones’ work, will be appreciative of her talent and her dedication to continuing the tradition of the original Gee’s Bend Quilters.