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Dancing at the Louvre: Faith Ringgold's French Collection and Other Story Quilts
"My process is designed to give us 'colored folk' and women a taste of the American dream straight up. Since the facts don't do that too often, I decided to make it up. . . . That is the real power and joy of being an artist. We can make it come true. Or look true."—Faith Ringgold, in a 1992 interview
This catalog is the first book-length publication devoted to the exquisite story quilts of contemporary artist Faith Ringgold. Combining painted images, handwritten texts, and quilting techniques, Ringgold weaves together modernist painting; feminist critique; postmodernist strategies of appropriation, parody, and montage; and personal memoir in a remarkable synthesis that takes on European modernism, African American folk art, and the "black aesthetic" of the 1960s and 1970s. The catalog accompanies an exhibition of The French Collection and The American Collection , a series of story quilts Ringgold has produced since 1990. Catalog essays include an examination of Ringgold's stylistic development through the 1960s and 1970s, an exploration of the social and political aspects of the story quilts, and a recollection by the artist's daughter, writer Michele Wallace.
Ringgold has adapted the tradition of the American slave quilt to create a world in which African Americans and women dominate, where history is not only questioned but also reinvented. The titles of the quilts in Ringgold's French Collection and American Collection suggest her subject range and Jo Baker's Birthday Party ; Dinner at Gertrude Stein's ; A Portrait of Aunt Jemima ; Tubman, Douglass, and Wanted Dead or Alive are examples. Faith Ringgold's broad audience of admirers (her books for children have won Caldecott and New York Times book illustration honors) will welcome Dancing at the Louvre . Finally there is a book that displays her artistic achievements and provides a full discussion of her importance within contemporary art.
This catalog is the first book-length publication devoted to the exquisite story quilts of contemporary artist Faith Ringgold. Combining painted images, handwritten texts, and quilting techniques, Ringgold weaves together modernist painting; feminist critique; postmodernist strategies of appropriation, parody, and montage; and personal memoir in a remarkable synthesis that takes on European modernism, African American folk art, and the "black aesthetic" of the 1960s and 1970s. The catalog accompanies an exhibition of The French Collection and The American Collection , a series of story quilts Ringgold has produced since 1990. Catalog essays include an examination of Ringgold's stylistic development through the 1960s and 1970s, an exploration of the social and political aspects of the story quilts, and a recollection by the artist's daughter, writer Michele Wallace.
Ringgold has adapted the tradition of the American slave quilt to create a world in which African Americans and women dominate, where history is not only questioned but also reinvented. The titles of the quilts in Ringgold's French Collection and American Collection suggest her subject range and Jo Baker's Birthday Party ; Dinner at Gertrude Stein's ; A Portrait of Aunt Jemima ; Tubman, Douglass, and Wanted Dead or Alive are examples. Faith Ringgold's broad audience of admirers (her books for children have won Caldecott and New York Times book illustration honors) will welcome Dancing at the Louvre . Finally there is a book that displays her artistic achievements and provides a full discussion of her importance within contemporary art.
- GenresArtNonfictionQuilting
168 pages, Paperback
First published March 2, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 14, 2017
Beautiful book! Story of an artist who continued to push for women artists to be given more recognition and opportunity, always considering others rather than just herself. A great book for young people and all adults about this inspiring artist and her work about African American history. Many colored pictures of her lovely and unique art work.
July 29, 2011
I really love the work of Faith Ringgold and her quilts and making African American history available to kids
January 2, 2012
Elegant and fabulous! a favorite book, and so beautifully presented!
June 27, 2022
This is a beautiful book with pictures of Faith Ringgold's French Collection quilts and others. The text allows one to get to know her more deeply--her influences, life and beliefs.
February 22, 2024
Enjoying this but I need to buy it. Too hard to read all at once; I need to be able to dip in and digest over time.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews