Peggy Hartwell
Marlene O'Bryant-Seabrook
Catherine Lampkin
Local artists quilt for Obama inauguration exhibit
By Nita Birmingham (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Provided Catherine Lamkin of West Ashley created the quilt she titled 'Change.' The pupil of the eye is a laminated postage stamp commemorating the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Four Lowcountry fabric artists were invited to interpret through fabric their emotions and thoughts on the election of Barack Obama as president. On Jan. 11, Peggie Hartwell of Summerville, Catherine Lamkin of West Ashley, Marlene O'Bryant-Seabrook of Charleston and Torreah "Cookie" Washington all traveled to the opening of "Quilts for Obama: Celebrating the Inauguration of our 44th President" presented by The Historical Society of Washington, D.C., and the Women of Color Quilters Network in partnership with The Group for Cultural Documentation. The exhibit is up through the end of January, with the exception of Jan. 20, Inauguration Day, at The Historical Society of Washington, 801 K St., N.W., Washington, D.C.
If you go:
The Historical Society of Washington, D.C., is at 801 K St., N.W., Washington, D.C. Exhibits are open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. but will be closed Jan. 20 for the inauguration. Visit www.historydc.org.
The Group for Cultural Documentation is offering a poster of the Quilts for Obama exhibit for any donation over $25. Visit www.tgcd.org.
Fabric artist Torreah "Cookie" Washington had only a month to complete her most recent art quilt, titled "The Rising Sun of our New Day Begun," but she was inspired.
"I was quilting for my president," she said.
Washington is one of four women who were invited to interpret through fabric their emotions and thoughts on the election of Barack Obama. Their work will be displayed at a Washington, D.C., exhibit that opened Jan. 11 and runs through this month.
"It really was so much of an honor and so incredibly humbling," Washington said.
Washington, who lives in West Ashley and has a North Charleston studio; Peggie Hartwell of Summerville; Catherine Lamkin of West Ashley; and Marlene O'Bryant-Seabrook of Charleston all traveled to the opening of "Quilts for Obama: Celebrating the Inauguration of our 44th President."
The Historical Society of Washington, D.C., and the Women of Color Quilters Network are presenting the exhibit in partnership with The Group for Cultural Documentation.
Roland Freeman, founder of the documentation group and exhibit guest curator, came up with the idea of exhibiting 44 quilts after Obama's victory in November. He began putting out calls for artists and, in less than 48 hours, all the slots were filled. "It's like people were waiting for an outlet," he said.
The exhibit wound up being a bit larger because Freeman wanted to incorporate pieces that represent Barack and Michelle Obama's cultural backgrounds.
Local artists became involved either because of their ties to the Women of Color Quilters Network or their knowledge of or work with Freeman.
Executing the exhibit was a challenge. The women got the call in the middle of November. The quilts had to be in Washington by Dec. 15. That gave the artists about a month to create their designs and execute them.
"It was unbelievable, but it was really a wonderful challenge because we were all caught up in the energy of the election and what we were going to do," Hartwell said.
The only restriction on their work was the size of the quilt, which couldn't be larger than 36 inches because of exhibition space limitations.
Lamkin was drawn to the theme of change, which is what she named her quilt. She stitched a quote from Indian political and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi on one side.
"I am an admirer of Gandhi, and he was one of my father's idols. I knew he had a saying, 'We must be the change we want to see in the world,' " she said.
She included gold-painted cowrie shells, which once were used as money in Africa, and her signature touch of a postage stamp that is significant to the piece.
O'Bryant-Seabrook thought of the many people and events that came before the election of the country's first African-American president. What first appears to be random pieces of an American flag stitched onto the quilt on closer inspection spell out its title: "They Paved the Way.
"
Anchoring the quilt are 44 steppingstones that bear the name of a person, event or organization that O'Bryant-Seabrook said was crucial in the process that led to Obama's election. She used real metal on each stone to symbolize the preciousness of lives given and blood, sweat and tears shed.
Hartwell also used steps in her quilt, "Restoration." Her signature, a child or children, is depicted in the image of a child swinging a bat, which Hartwell took from a photo of Obama playing ball.
Hartwell said the piece was a joy to complete.
"There's like a transfer of energy. You're no longer the artist; you're just the hands that this piece is dictating you finish," she said.
Washington chose symbols of hope in her work.
"I am happy that we have the right president at the right time. I think, worldwide, people are so much more hopeful," she said.
Washington had a quilt blessing Dec. 12, the day before she sent it to the nation's capital.
"I really wanted as much good energy to go with this quilt as possible," she said.
Reach Nita Birmingham at nbirmingham@post andcourier.com or 937-5433.
By Nita Birmingham (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Provided Catherine Lamkin of West Ashley created the quilt she titled 'Change.' The pupil of the eye is a laminated postage stamp commemorating the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Four Lowcountry fabric artists were invited to interpret through fabric their emotions and thoughts on the election of Barack Obama as president. On Jan. 11, Peggie Hartwell of Summerville, Catherine Lamkin of West Ashley, Marlene O'Bryant-Seabrook of Charleston and Torreah "Cookie" Washington all traveled to the opening of "Quilts for Obama: Celebrating the Inauguration of our 44th President" presented by The Historical Society of Washington, D.C., and the Women of Color Quilters Network in partnership with The Group for Cultural Documentation. The exhibit is up through the end of January, with the exception of Jan. 20, Inauguration Day, at The Historical Society of Washington, 801 K St., N.W., Washington, D.C.
If you go:
The Historical Society of Washington, D.C., is at 801 K St., N.W., Washington, D.C. Exhibits are open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. but will be closed Jan. 20 for the inauguration. Visit www.historydc.org.
The Group for Cultural Documentation is offering a poster of the Quilts for Obama exhibit for any donation over $25. Visit www.tgcd.org.
Fabric artist Torreah "Cookie" Washington had only a month to complete her most recent art quilt, titled "The Rising Sun of our New Day Begun," but she was inspired.
"I was quilting for my president," she said.
Washington is one of four women who were invited to interpret through fabric their emotions and thoughts on the election of Barack Obama. Their work will be displayed at a Washington, D.C., exhibit that opened Jan. 11 and runs through this month.
"It really was so much of an honor and so incredibly humbling," Washington said.
Washington, who lives in West Ashley and has a North Charleston studio; Peggie Hartwell of Summerville; Catherine Lamkin of West Ashley; and Marlene O'Bryant-Seabrook of Charleston all traveled to the opening of "Quilts for Obama: Celebrating the Inauguration of our 44th President."
The Historical Society of Washington, D.C., and the Women of Color Quilters Network are presenting the exhibit in partnership with The Group for Cultural Documentation.
Roland Freeman, founder of the documentation group and exhibit guest curator, came up with the idea of exhibiting 44 quilts after Obama's victory in November. He began putting out calls for artists and, in less than 48 hours, all the slots were filled. "It's like people were waiting for an outlet," he said.
The exhibit wound up being a bit larger because Freeman wanted to incorporate pieces that represent Barack and Michelle Obama's cultural backgrounds.
Local artists became involved either because of their ties to the Women of Color Quilters Network or their knowledge of or work with Freeman.
Executing the exhibit was a challenge. The women got the call in the middle of November. The quilts had to be in Washington by Dec. 15. That gave the artists about a month to create their designs and execute them.
"It was unbelievable, but it was really a wonderful challenge because we were all caught up in the energy of the election and what we were going to do," Hartwell said.
The only restriction on their work was the size of the quilt, which couldn't be larger than 36 inches because of exhibition space limitations.
Lamkin was drawn to the theme of change, which is what she named her quilt. She stitched a quote from Indian political and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi on one side.
"I am an admirer of Gandhi, and he was one of my father's idols. I knew he had a saying, 'We must be the change we want to see in the world,' " she said.
She included gold-painted cowrie shells, which once were used as money in Africa, and her signature touch of a postage stamp that is significant to the piece.
O'Bryant-Seabrook thought of the many people and events that came before the election of the country's first African-American president. What first appears to be random pieces of an American flag stitched onto the quilt on closer inspection spell out its title: "They Paved the Way.
"
Anchoring the quilt are 44 steppingstones that bear the name of a person, event or organization that O'Bryant-Seabrook said was crucial in the process that led to Obama's election. She used real metal on each stone to symbolize the preciousness of lives given and blood, sweat and tears shed.
Hartwell also used steps in her quilt, "Restoration." Her signature, a child or children, is depicted in the image of a child swinging a bat, which Hartwell took from a photo of Obama playing ball.
Hartwell said the piece was a joy to complete.
"There's like a transfer of energy. You're no longer the artist; you're just the hands that this piece is dictating you finish," she said.
Washington chose symbols of hope in her work.
"I am happy that we have the right president at the right time. I think, worldwide, people are so much more hopeful," she said.
Washington had a quilt blessing Dec. 12, the day before she sent it to the nation's capital.
"I really wanted as much good energy to go with this quilt as possible," she said.
Reach Nita Birmingham at nbirmingham@post andcourier.com or 937-5433.
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