THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE CHOIR
68” X 98”
1994
This quilt was created because I love the human face and enjoy exploring its many variations in my work. It seems to me that of all the ways human beings get together to form groups, that of singing is the most joyous and of all the types of singing groups, the black gospel choir conveys the utmost joy. I tried to convey that sense of joy in this piece from the serene look on the leader’s face to the eyes closed in ecstasy of the singers to the clapping hands at the top of the quilt. The colored strips of fabric represent the stained glass windows of the church in which I might actually find this group or one like them. The pose of the central figure resembles that of Christ on the cross, a subject that I am sure this choir would sing about often, or the layout architecturally of the great cathedrals which also corresponds to the stained glass window effect in the body of the quilt. This piece is all about joy and was also inspired by the music and imagery of Lyle Lovett, one of my favorite musicians.
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SELF PORTRAIT WITH NELLIES
21” X 25”
1995
It seemed time for me to create a self portrait after putting so many other faces in my quilt art for so many years. I spent a month in Northern Ireland teaching quilt making in 1995.
While there, I became intrigued by their embroidery traditions and decided to ply my own needle upon my return home. The portraits in my hands, the hands that are of great importance to me as a quilt artist, are of my grandmother, Nellie and my daughter, Nellie. I see myself as a link in the chain that connects us. My grandmother was a quilt maker who inspired me to make quilts and my daughter is an artist, carrying on that part
of my passion. I am surrounded by folk art inspired motifs because I feel that my approach to the art of quilt making grows out of a folk art tradition passed down to me by my grandmother.
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