Human Thread/Play Date with the Henderson.

Greetings All,

I have finished all the pieces for the exhibit at Human Thread and I no longer have any of the fabrics that where created from my Play-Date with the Henderson from 2009. Below is that final piece (Collaboration-IX-Jamal) and the poem that has inspired the exhibition/journey. The exhibiton will run from:

July 9th - August3rd, 2012

HumanThread Center Gallery

645 W. 18th Street

Chicago, IL 60616

Artist's Reception

2nd Friday Gallery Night

Friday, July 13, 2012

6 pm - 10 pm

For more information visit. http://www.humanthread.net/

We Too Are Chicago!
By Ramona Dallum Lindsey

Your Gold Coast is not our stomping ground
Oprah rarely visits our 'hood.
We're called Kendra, David, Hector, and Maria
We share the block with Phat Daddy and Lil' Mama
We're regulars on the Green, Red, and Pink Line,
Our train stops at neighborhoods like
Englewood, Auburn-Gresham, Pilsen, and Little Village
We too are Chicago
We stare from bedroom windows at boarded up homes
And wonder about Travis, forced from the 'hood,
Because his people couldn't pay
We pass the teddy bear shrine dashing to catch the train
And wonder during our 60 minute ride to the better school
Who will be the next to die.
We gaze out the train window at homeys on the corner
And wonder how long Drop-outs will stand
Because no one cared enough to give them a chance.
We too are Chicago
Our parents work hard to give us the basics
It's no to the fancy dance lessons, art camps, & theater shows
Most of us leave school with nothing to do
We head home to empty houses
Where we lock ourselves in
But some of us take the dangerous detour
Straight to the pushers, bangers, and hustlers
We too are Chicago
We are more than you see
You see hopeless,
We see dreams!
You see lazy,
We see potential!
You see waste,
We see opportunity!
You see depressed,
We see achievers!
We too are Chicago
Copyright 2012

Human Thread Exhibit update.

Greetings All,
Here is another entry for the exhibit next month at Human Threads. This one was created with hand painted fabric form my Play-Date with the Henderson back in 2009 that was done by Jamal and the title is Collaboration-VII (Jamal). I also used some of my hand dyed cotton and some photos that I took around town. "We stare from bedroom windows at boarded up homes and wonder about Travis, forced from the 'hood because his people couldn't pay" - Ramona Lindsey. I chose this line because Jamal parents, another set of neighbors and myself all lost our homes during the same time. I never thought about how this makes a child feel until I read this line in Ramona's poem. I hope/pray wherever Jamal/family are that they are alright.

Piece of the Week and coming exhibit.

Greetings All,

I'm preparing for an exhibit next month at the Human Thread with Ramona Dallum Lindsey. The exhibit it titled "We Too Are Chicago" and inspired by a poem that was written by Ramona. The focus is on youth and because of that I chose to exhibit pieces that I collaborated with youth. Below is a piece from my series "The Collaboration Project" that started in 2009 the Jamal Henderson and sisters. Jamal painted the background and I appliqued and quilted the whole cloth piece.
"We gaze out the train window at homeys on the corner and wonder how long Drop-outs will stand because no one cared enough to give them a chance. We too are Chicago!" - Ramona Dallum Lindsey.

I have wondered why I chose certin lines from Ramona's poem and when I look at the piece/poem I ask myself. This line was choosen because I would see young men/women standing on corners as I would drive throughout the ciy just standing and I ask why? They have other choices, but why don't they choose them? Do they not see a future? Do they not have any hope?

Hot Jazz update

Greetings All,
Here's number 3 in the Hot Jazz series from my resent play-date. I love silhouettes and I can't say that enough. I love the simplicity of these pieces and the colors and I hope that you do too. Now I'm off to make quilt sandwiches so that when time will permit I will be ready to complete the process as I listen to some cool/hot jazz while working.

Updates.

Greetings All,
Today I had a play-date with members of the "Sew What Art Quilters" (suburban chapter) and we met in Naperville, IL for fun/lunch. We had so much fun that I forgot to take pictures.

However I do have photos of the work that I did. I over painted some fabrics that I had dyed a while back using freezer paper to create the silhouettes and I got this idea from another fabulous Yasmin Sabur. I used freezer paper the last time that we met, but in a diffrent way and there is one more piece in this series and then we shall move on. Enjoy;-)

Lunch was served on the deck overlooking a beautiful garden and I didn't take any pictures of it either. But the food was good and there was a wonderful zucchini bread for dessert and I didn't take any pictures of that as well. I was not in a good picture mode, but I had a great time.

Remarkable Women Show - Peltz Gallery

Greetings All,
You are invited to the Peltz Gallery 21st Annual “Remarkable Women Show” 2011
Paintings, collage, original prints, quilts & small sculpture by more than 40 women artists.

Amy Arntson, Suzanne Caporael, Squeak Carnwath, Allison B. Cooke, Joeann Daley, Lesley Dill, Lee Ann Garrison, Chrystal Denise Gillon, Michele Gutierrez, Sharon Kerry-Harlan, Martha Hayden, Peregrine Honig, Sonji Hunt, Jayne Reid Jackson, Anne Kingsbury, Kay Knight, Karen Kunc, Diane Levesque, Hung Liu, Barbara Manger, Jiha Moon, Frances Myers, Amy Newell, Gladys Nilsson, Judy Pfaff, Linda Plotkin, JoAnna Poehlmann, Marilyn Propp, Glenda Puhek, Carol S. Pylant, Kathleen Raash, Alison Saar, Stephanie C. Selle, Hollis Sigler, Cheryl Olson-Sklar, Jeanette Pasin Sloan, Barbara Kohl Spiro, Christine Style, Evelyn Patricia Terry,Leslie Vansen, Kara Walker, Della Wells, Trish Williams and more!

Peltz Gallery is locate 1119 E. Knapp Street

Milwaukee, WI 53202
Reception & Opening Friday, July 29th 6:00 to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 30th Gallery’s 22nd Birthday Celebration 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Artists’ Memories
For more information you may call 414-223-4278 or email: peltzgallery@sbcglobal.net My piece The Other Side of the Creek (above) will be a part of this exhibit.

Piece of the Week

Greetings All,
Here is my "Piece of the Week", Collaboration - VII (right) from a Play-Date that I had with a wonderful group of sister-friends. This the companion piece to "Collaboration – VI" and I added a sister giving worship at the bottom right corner because this group of sister-friends are worshipers and I wanted to reflex that is some way.

UJAMAA-Cooperative Economics and NIA - Purpose

Greetings All,
The principles for day 4 and 5 of Kwanzaa are late because I've been busy finishing several pieces for my up and coming exhibit. So please forgive me for being tardy and you can see the pieces below completed or almost.

Dec. 29th UJAMAA COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS - To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.

Dec. 30th NIA PURPOSE - To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

"Collaboration - V (Ella)"

The above piece was created with the assistance of my mentee, Myia Esper. Myia painted the background and I add humming birds with Golden Gel Medium. The upper left hand one was cut from a magazine and the middle and lower left were printed from my pc on regular paper that I got from a copyright free website and I then cut humming birds from a blue plastic bag and applied them over the paper. I love this mix media process and I love working with Myia. Myia and I are a part of a mentoring program at Urban Circle Ministries and have been partnered since 2007.

James Moody (below) was an easy piece that took me about 8 hours to create. I love the simplicity of this piece and for me it was all about the cool blue. His jacket fabric is some of the fabrics that were created by the Henderson and they are the children that live next door to me. His shirt was some of my own had dyed and his sax is out of silk duponi that I have had for years and I'm just about at the end of the yard. I must get more because I just love the hand of silk and I love me some James Moody who died on December 9, 2010.

New Art/Pig-Out!

Greetings All,

I forgot to post pictures of the feast that I went to where our hostess with the mostess prepared a wonderful salmon wrapped in Filo with sun dried tomatoes, pesto, and cream cheese. The salmon was so good that I forgot to take a picture and she served a wonderful green salad with feta. We finish off the meal with a delightful wine by Hitching Post and ice cream and cake. Below is a collage of the prep and ingredients.

The next things I forgot to post about were my new pieces added to my art collection. Dr. Margaret Burrough co-founder of the DuSable Museum of African American History here Chicago was passing out to all of the artists/vendors a signed poster of her-self and she's a spry 90 years young and still going strong. I will display it with another black/white print that I have of hers. Thank you Dr Burrough.


Above (left) is a wonderful poster by artist Arlene Turner-Crawford who I found out is a fan of mine. For the last several years I have donated a piece to the Muntu Dance Company for their silent auction and she's been the one biding on them and buying them. She gave me the poster because I said I was one of her fans and I love black/whites. Thank you Arlene I enjoyed to tour of your awesome collection.

Big Sky-VI (right) is the piece that I traded with Arlene for the last piece that I've added to my collection for now. Arlene created a mix-media piece to honor Betty Carter (below left). We both love classic jazz and love us some Betty Carter.

Betty is created from paint, shells, paper, beads, acrylic and one of my favorite gemstone Amethysts. Betty's spirit just sores and radiates from this piece for me and I love have it in my space. Every time that I look at this piece I can hear Betty sing.

Cover story-Uncle Tom's Cabin

This passed Saturday me and some friends got together for feast and again it was just wonderful. Our host prepared Cuban pork and black beans that was slow cooked all day and it was just great!!! The new kid Sara brought Red Velvet cupcakes and her version of chocolate sandwich cookies. Pat brought a salad of mix greens and oranges and just love the contrast between the furit and vegtables. Erica had a layered caramel cake which is a Chicago favorite. I added Argentina Empanadas which was a first for me and I will prepare again. We had a great time, great food and great company. We did do some are and I forgot to take pictures.

An finally by piece Run On was chosen for the book cover of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" that was edited by Elizabeth Ammons. This is my first cover and I hope not my last.

Collaboration Project/Smyrna, TN

Greetings All,


Here's Jabriah's collaboration piece (left) and I kept to the original work and didn't add anything other than the quilting. Jabriah is the youngest of the Henderson's and was tagging along with her sibling and I had to honor her as well. I'm so very grateful the lessons that are being learn by us all during this process.

One of my best friends that is now residing in Smyrna, TN sent me images of her latest creations and I just wanted to share them with you all. Pam has created a wonderful animal theme jacket and matching tote bag and I can't wait to see them and her in person. Way to go Pam.

Play date with Jamal

Greeting All,

Yesterday I had another play-date with Jamal and here is is latest creation. He didn't explain his piece only to say that there was a bird, plane, sun, and a car in this piece. I just stood back and open paints as he asked. He did tell me that is first piece in our "Collaboration Project should remain in the orientation that he created it in so I've change that on the previous post. I hope that we get the chance to do at least on more. I will keep you posted.

Jamal's Piece

Greetings All,

Jamal's piece is finished and I didn't want to take away from his work so I just quilted heavely with Superior Primary color thread. Do click on the image for more detail view. This pieces was painted with Setacolor transparent, Tulip Slick, Tulip Pearl, and Tulip Glitter.

All paints were donated by Loraine Little and Michele Hardman, who I thank wholeheartedly for their contributions. Loraine also gave me the base fabric. I have decided to make this an on-going event/project not just with the Henderson, but with any child that shows an interest. The next piece that I will work on is Jamillah's and next Monday I have a play-date with my mentee who wants to explore fabric paint and I'm going to try to convince her to quilt it on her own. I will keep you posted on our "Collaboration Projects".

Play Date with the Hendersons

Greetings All,

Jamal finally got me to slow down and have a play-date with him and his sisters Jamillah and Jabriah. These are my next door neighbors children and Jamal has always asked me what I was doing, where I was going and could he help. We have a small space between the building were we live, so there we were again in the gang-way painting fabric. We did this last year and Jamal has been waiting to do it again. I'm so sorry that I put it off for so long and hope that we can get in a couple more days this year were we can do it again. I have started quilting Jamal's piece and we shall see what come of it. I would like to enter their pieces in shows and once we get accepted let them come and see their work on display. Who knows we may have a budding artist among us.

Canvas Book/New SAQA Reg. Reps.

Greetings All,

Here's a new page for my canvas book (above) and also a photo of the new SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) regional reps (below). Laura Wasilowski, myself, and Frieda Anderson. I am excited by this new journey with my canvas book and being a representative SAQA along side of Frieda and Laura. Frieda and Laura are best buds, business partners, and world known teachers/artists. They are also founders of the "Chicago School of Fusing."

Last week they celebrated the May birthdays of Frieda and Laura in Chicago at Judy Coates-Perez's and I was also in attendance. Judy and her daughter Nina had prepared a lovely lunch (below) of Spanokopit, Greek salad and strawberry short cake made with pound cake, whipped cream and some of the strawberries were dipped in chocolate. WOW! We all had a great time.