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Life is Precious
27 in
x
21 in
(69 cm x 53 cm)
Year
2019
Photo Credit
Linda Meas
Price
$0.00
Art is the vehicle by which I express myself both politically and spiritually. It motivates me to express my feelings in a form to which others can relate. I want my work to be accessible to a large and diverse audience, even (perhaps especially) those who are not the usual gallery population.
Although I have been an artist for more than 40 years, I discovered a whole new dimension when I found that the colors and patterns in fabric could animate my art in bold and exciting ways. Since then, I have explored themes of politics, family, music, and dance in fabric portraits. As an African American artist, my eyes and ears are open to the people and issues that engage my community. From rappers Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls to young people chanting “Hands up, Don’t shoot!”, my quilts bring the viewer images that are not frequently found in the “soft art” of quilting.
But my message is also one of contrast.
Although I have been an artist for more than 40 years, I discovered a whole new dimension when I found that the colors and patterns in fabric could animate my art in bold and exciting ways. Since then, I have explored themes of politics, family, music, and dance in fabric portraits. As an African American artist, my eyes and ears are open to the people and issues that engage my community. From rappers Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls to young people chanting “Hands up, Don’t shoot!”, my quilts bring the viewer images that are not frequently found in the “soft art” of quilting.
But my message is also one of contrast.
Materials
Commercial fabrics (cotton, linen, wool, silks, sheer, and batiks), Threads, Wonder Under
Techniques
I started by selecting a black-and-white photograph of my grandson. Then I decided what size I wanted the quilt to be, using muslin cloth to draw his image. Next, I picked out various kinds of fabrics, from solid colors to prints.