heritage | race | identity | personal history | power structures | overcoming adversity
I just decided when someone says you can't do something, do more of it. Faith Ringgold wishes to shed light on who she is and what she stands for without the limitations of stereotypes. This is something that I believe we can all relate to. Social norms give off messages constantly telling us what we can and can’t do or who we can and can’t be based on preconceived notions. Faith Ringgold strongly stands up against adversity using her art as her tool to do this. The storytelling component to her work is equally as compelling as the colorful images she creates. Faith Ringgold does not want to argue or dispute with anyone on the societal ideas that are discussed on her quilts. She simply wishes to retell the story and get the chance to communicate it in a way that may not have been considered before. This is how she creates meaningful works of art that are an expression of not only who she is but what she believes in as well.
|
Faith Ringgold is a female African American artist and activist who is best known for her story quilts. Faith Ringgold’s has persevered through it all. She says that the key to success is to not stop trying and that determination is all that it takes. There are all great impetuses to live by. Faith Ringgold once had an art teacher in college tell her that she could not be an artist. That was the moment that Faith Ringgold knew that she could be an artist because he told her she couldn’t be. Before her fame, Faith Ringgold had the courage to go to all the galleries that she could to get them to show her work despite the fact that she was a woman and she was African American. She brought slides, photos, and actual pieces of artwork in hopes that she would land a gallery. That kind of willpower is inspiring just like the narratives that she writes on her famous story quilts. While being trained by the great European artists, Faith Ringgold combines that art background with her Native American heritage to create captivating large scenes on quilts. Quilting was a conscious decision as far as the medium goes as she believes that quilting started from African American women. In this way, quilting is a part of her heritage and she chose this material to work in to celebrate that.
Faith Ringgold's Work |
|
Faith Ringgold in the ClassroomI feel as though the art of using fabric and textile to create in its traditional form is not used much anymore. Especially since the class of home economics is not offered as much as it used to be and not a required course. A potential Faith Ringgold inspired lesson could merge the technical skill of sewing with the concept of narrative. Students could make felt books that tell a story about an important/pivotal event that happened in their life. Students would be exploring the practical skill of sewing while reflecting on an event in their life that holds great significance to them.
|
Questions to Consider:
What do you think is important to Faith Ringgold after viewing her work?
Why does she choose to make art using the media and process that she does?
How does the media that one chooses to use effect the overall piece of art?
How can art created about social issues impact viewers and the world? Why is this important?
What is an important pivotal moment in your life that you could represent through text and image?
Why does she choose to make art using the media and process that she does?
How does the media that one chooses to use effect the overall piece of art?
How can art created about social issues impact viewers and the world? Why is this important?
What is an important pivotal moment in your life that you could represent through text and image?