SistahCraft

Speak On it, My Sistahs––The "Speak Out!" Show

In The Eye Of The Calm

(the pupil of "Peace Meditation of the Third Eye", by Robyn Mahone-Lonesome; All pics enlarge.)

A lot of self-help guides advise you to express your feelings to the intended, in the form of a letter, if you can't communicate them verbally. "Speak Out!", the exhibition attended by myself and Mr. K at the
Frank H. Williams Caribbean Cultural Center last weekend, had me thinking about the shows description as a correspondence, giving voice to a group of women––The Harlem Girls Quilting Circle––addressing issues affecting them, me, and whether you know it or not––you too.

I am largely a knitter, but I like to look for the connecting threads between diverse mediums to obtain inspiration. This show had my head spinning. The issues, investigated through the modern manipulation of a trad feminine form––the techniques, color, power, size, and beauty––bum-rushed my brain in a kaleidoscopic convergence.

The result, was a viscerally, sensory experience; your first thought is not the "gee, these are really nice quilts," kind of pleasantness you get from other shows of similar medium. When you enter, and the first quilt you see reflects the past and present state of Harlem, N.Y., now a real estate epicenter, depicted in a marvelously cohesive member-assigned block quilt––it's more like "Wow, what the *&#@?!"

Harlem On Their Minds

(Harlem 2008, in a nutshell; the HGQC group quilt; machine pieced by Ann Alvarez, machine quilted by Laura R. Gadson)

The messages, while personal to the circle, were certainly not intended for an inaccessible audience; and believe me, the audience came out in force! The issues––injustice, the criminal system, economics, health-care––aren't new, but that's not the point. As the blandness of email makes it easier to delete what you don't want to deal with, the attraction of these quilts, is quite the corollary; like letters written in a sensuous hand, on handmade rice paper with a
Faber-Castel––their beauty renders the subject matter even more compelling to read, no matter how chilling.

(My Country, Tis'  of Greed, by Laura R. Gadson. Flag. Cotton with mixed media embellishments; 2008)

But unlike paper correspondence, this is too powerful to be mentally balled up and thrown away as some of the same guides advise, the importance being "closure". No y'all, this is a trad form of expression turned on its head, to express everything from outrage to a mechanism for coping. And true to our sistah selves, the imagery was bold and to the point––but hey, how else are some folks eventually going to "get it?"

(You GO, grrls; artists Robyn Mahone-Lonsome and Michelle Bishop, in front of a meditation quilt by Paula Wynter).

"Speak Out!" isn't all about facing confounding issues. As in life, there are ways to cope, and these methods are displayed in works that soothe and heal, through balance and meditation. Paula Wynter's diptych, "Meditation: All The Pain And Suffering In the World", and "Meditation: All The Happiness In The World", is inspired by the practice of Tonglen. Unfinished works, they invite the viewer to add to the sending out of the pain and suffering of themselves and others, and then to send out happiness to us all. "Peace Meditation of the Third Eye" comes with an actual mantra to repeat.

At The End Of The Day, Why You Should Go

(Detail of HGQC's group quilt; transfer, magic marker, applique, machine stitched)

The HGQC is an independent circle of Harlem based sistahs who meet regularly to quilt. Together for a number of years, their works grace many private collections. In order to share their refreshingly modern perspectives with the public, they raise money for, and mount many of their own exhibitions. This group effort enables you to enjoy a stereotype-free experience, lacking censorship from the technique dominated, lulling shawl of passivity of many local group shows. I'm sending a HUGE shout out to the Cultural Center for hosting this show; and to my girls at HGQC, for inspiring me with new ways to communicate.

Now, I'ma say this once more. If you're looking for new ways to communicate, there will be a panel discussion with the artists about their way of working together, on April 30th, and then––African-inspired quilting workshops on the 7th, 14th, and 21st of June; for more info, contact Monthina Williams at the center––RSVP early for these, my friends, the instructor is Ife Felix, one of the founders; these workshops don't happen often, and they fill up quickly. So be there, or you're only a square!

Happy New Year! Springing Up, and Out towards the Sunlight––Row 1

My Vacation To Do List, For Art, Music, And Whatever!

(Up close, it's mind boggling! "Peace Meditation of the Third Eye." Quilt, by Robin Mahone-Lonesome; photo, D. James Dee; all pics enlarge).

Friends! I feel blessed to be on vacation in time to celebrate Easter, the beginning of the New Year, along with a number of other cultures on our planet. I long ago gave up on the Gregorian Calendar––looking out of my window at New Year's––I saw no newness.

Now as the daffodils are starting to push up from the ground in my building's courtyard, I'm feeling my own upward push toward renewal and creative growth. Which is exactly why––tomorrow––Mr. K and I are out the door for the opening reception, of new works by the intrepidly creative sistahs of The Harlem Girls Quilting Circle. My girl (and one of the artists exhibiting) Michelle Bishop, blessed me with this info.

Speak Out!––is a correspondence, using the quilt medium to represent the voices of a group of women fearlessly exploring the social issues impeding our progress at the present time. Taking place in collaboration with the Franklin H. Williams Caribbean Cultural Center (they have a most beautiful intro for their 30th anniversary), it's happening from 5 to 8 p.m. in the gallery. RSVP to Monthina Williams at 212 307 7420, ext. 3006. The suggested donation is $5.00US, C.C.C.A.D.I. members free.

Now, if you cannot make the opening, it's okay, the best is yet to come! Put this in your calendar. There will be a panel discussion with the artists next month, and an African-inspired quilt workshop, in June. And trust me, these sistahs rarely hold workshops, so ya' don't wanna miss it! (Ya' hear that Trina?). The show is up until June 27th.

Tie A Yellow Ribbon, In The Following Places!

The fantastic film of my ubiquitous co-worker, Joy Dietrich, is on the move! For those of ya'll who inquired, I know it's been a minute, but festival season is here, and with it––screenings! Check this link, then go and tell her Sahara said hi! And hey––holla' back with your thoughts on this movie.

Okay, I gotta go put some food in me, so I can come back and put up another post, about my arm's-length list of places to go and people to see!

From A Closet, To A Colossus

The Little Shop That Could…Did!

(You won't stumble into this place. All pics enlarge)

A little over a year ago, I literally stumbled into Vardhman Inc., a craft, trim, and yarn business on 39th street. The size of a closet, its ceiling height gave the place the appearance of being housed in an elevator shaft. I was so intrigued by this jam packed jewel of a shop, I gave them a shout.

This past week, on my way to Steinlauf & Stoller during lunch hour to buy a zipper, I stumbled upon––rather into––the new Vardhman Inc., now a few doors down from its old location, occupying a  space about 10 times larger and boasting a mezzanine, no less. What happened?

  (Observation deck; the view from the mezznine.)

"We were fortunate," says Baljeet Arora, one of the owners. "We have now been here six months. It's a bit slow, due to the season, but it will pick up." Indeed it should. I took in the spacious breath-ability of the new digs, and it felt good to exhale. Yes, they've traded the jewel box feel of the former store, for what some may find, as a more sterile environment. But its size is used to good effect; you'll no longer feel as if you're gonna start an avalanche every time your bag swings around.

The place is bathed in an energy-saving cool tint, while contributing to the sterile look––is still better than the eye-strain dinginess of Daytona Braids & Trimming, up the block. You can now actually see what they have to offer, which lead my gaze hungrily to the mezzanine. I became stoked, curious to check out the expansion of what were formerly just a wall of shelves––or maybe it was my yarn addiction kickin' in, at the speculation of what I could possess.

Guess which, won out?