Primitive quilts, are associated with American colonial times, rural areas or groups such as the Amish or the Shakers. These crafts include wall hangings, throws and other coordinating pieces, and are recognizable by their simple, hand made look. Some primitive quilts are highly sought-after collectors' items. The term primitive quilt can refer not only to the work of small religious communities, but also to the work of any artist or craftsperson who works in this style. Sometimes these craftspeople come from economically marginalized groups. The women of Gee's Bend, Alabama, are renowned throughout the world for their fine quilts. Gee's Bend was a very poor African-American tenement community enclosed on three sides by a turn in the Alabama River. The women of this impoverished and isolated community formed their own style of primitive quilt making that often features minimalist geometric shapes and repurposed, discarded items of clothing. The Gee's Bend quilts are so aesthetically remarkable that now they are on display in art galleries and the Smithsonian Museum of American Art. A primitive quilt is often something that was created to serve a purpose besides aesthetic contemplation and primitive quilts often reflect these designs. Amish hex signs are an example of this definition. Amish, or Pennsylvania Dutch, people live in small religious communities in rural areas and eschew modern conveniences such as automobiles and cellular phones. They usually work farming the land, and many Amish barns have hexes. These hexes are painted symbols, often of flowers or stars, and for Amish people they symbolize God's blessing and are thought to offer protection. These patterns are often incorporated into primitive quilts.