Faith Ringgold: A View from the Studio

by Faith Ringgold, Curlee Raven Holton

When you look out of your studio window, what do you see? I see my determination to be free in America. Faith Ringgold: A View From the Studio is a remarkable book about a world-famous Black American artist. It is an artist's artist's book--by one artist and about another--about the making of art, about politics and judgment, about passion and struggle. It is, above all, about a great artist's collaboration with others in the creation of a unique body of work, which expresses a deeply committed vision of American history and the struggle for freedom. Whether in the deeply personal works such as Coming to Jones Road or the more public statements in The Death of Apartheid and No More War, Faith Ringgold expresses a bold vision that celebrates a debt to the powerful and enduring legacy of African- American literature, music, poetry, and painting. A courageous, experimental artist with a deep sense of public responsibility, she is the embodiment of one of the richest traditions in American art. Curlee Holton, a long-time collaborator of Faith's and her principal printmaker, has written about his fellow artist's creative methods, studio work, and many sources of inspiration. Curlee reveals an artist endowed with an unquenchable energy that communicates itself to all who come into contact with her, be they children, students, artists, or her many admirers and collectors, both private and institutional. As a printmaker and teacher, Curlee pays particular attention to the nature of Faith's working relationship with himself and other printers such as Bob Blackburn and John Phillips, as well as to the remarkable collaboration between Faith and her mother, Willie Posie.

Genres: Art

96 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2005

Reviews

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faith Ringgold holds a singular niche in American art. Her quilts are famed and appear in museums, private collections and children's books.

This retrospective, like many books that accompany "one man shows" is a once over lightly. Like other exhibit companions, biographical information has all been printed before and kudos and admiration appear on every page. Like any other exhibit catalog, the photos are too small to do real justice to the works.

The treat of this book is having a sampling of Ringgold's different periods and themes in between two covers.

While not the intent of a book like this, I hope to see, one day, a full scale biography of this unique person and how her talent grew.

[Marypeitz peitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an inspiring artist still producing art today!

[Sara Hodorowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Work requested review. Book has lovely color illustrations but I wasn’t super overwhelmed.