The Skin Quilt Project

Quilting in South Carolina and the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor!

What a treat we’re in for during on the upcoming trip to South Carolina, with an amazing lineup of African American and Gullah quilters!

To give you an introduction, the Gullah/Geechee culture is one of the most-defined groups of African Americans who have managed to maintain a strong connection to their African roots, some of their tools of expression being basket-weaving and quilting traditions! The Gullah/Geechee cultural presence can be traced from the coasts of North Carolina all the way down to Jacksonville, Florida. To find out more about the Gullah/Geechee culture check out the link to the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor.

There is also a great rooted history of the African American culture in places like Charleston and Georgetown, South Carolina leading back to the transportation of slaves from Africa. I’ve often heard about the historic slave market in Charleston, but in the context of The Skin Quilt Project it has new meaning. If anyone has ever read the book, Hidden in Plain View: A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad( Jacqueline L. Tobin and Raymond G. Dobard, Ph.D) you know exactly what I mean. The story is about a woman in Charleston, SC who revealed a secret code used in the underground railroad during slavery. It’s a fascinating and thought provoking book that suggests the cultural connections between the history of the African American quilting tradition, slavery, and the Underground railroad. Despite it’s interesting points, the theories in the book have also been questioned by many scholars and historians as they debate whether there was truly a “secret code” during slavery. Where it’s true or not it’s certainly an interesting take on the African American quilting tradition.

During the upcoming trip we will also be visiting a variety of historical sites  that will allow us to visualize the history of the African American experience in the south.

We’re excited to be interviewing quilters Wendell George Brown, Cookie Washington, Vermelle “Bunny” Rodrigues at the Gullah Museum, and Dorothy Montgomery. Please stay tuned for more updates on what we found!

The Skin Quilt Project featured in Glimpse Journal's Color issue!

Stay tuned to the upcoming “Color” issue of the Glimpse Journal, an interdisciplinary journal that examines the functions, processes, and effects of vision and its implications for being, knowing, and constructing our world(s). Director of The Skin Quilt Project, Lauren Cross has contributed a essay to the Glimpse vol 2.3, Color issue detailing the conception of the documentary and her personal experiences with colorism. Check out the posting on the project on the Glimpse Journal blog!

On the set with The Skin Quilt Project!

On the set of The Skin Quilt Project with Dr. Midge Wilson, Professor of Psychology and Associate Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences at DePaul University(Chicago, IL), quilter Mrs. Auian Ward featuring her beautiful wealth of quilts(Houston, Texas), and artist Carolyn Crump in the studio( Houston, Texas).

Photo credits:

Photos of Mrs. Auian Ward and Carolyn Crump by Lauren Cross

Photos of Dr. Midge Wilson by Jewelette Christopher

Spoken Word poets featured in The Skin Quilt Project!

The Skin Quilt Project will feature the collaborative work of New York poets Mahogany Browne and Darian Dauchan performing a new poem about the African American quilting tradition. I’m so excited about what they’ve put together, they are both notable poets( and performers) who have spread their artistry across the country and we’re honored to have them apart of the project. Be sure to check out their work on myspace.com!

Mahogany Browne: www.myspace.com/mahoganylbrowne

Darian Dauchan: www.myspace.com/darianurbangriot

Skin Quilt Project featuring Dr. Midge Wilson and Kathy Russell, two of three co-authors of "The Color Complex: The Politics of Skin Color Among African Americans."

Anyone who has done any significant research on colorism in the African American community would have had to run into this book, The Color Complex: The Politics of Skin Color Among African Americans. In the two years that I’ve researched the topic of colorism in the African American community I found their text to be one of the most helpful and most objective, of course there are a number of great books out there, but I found their perspective to convey both the emotions behind the topic as well as really looking at the subject as not victim or blame but by tracing the origins of these ideas and how its taken affect in the lives of different people. I would encourage anyone interested in digging deeper into this subject to read this book.

I will have the pleasure to meet with both Dr. Midge Wilson and Kathy Russell in Chicago, IL within the next couple of weeks to talk about the issues of colorism in the African American community, and even more specifically how far we’ve come since they originally wrote their book in 1992.

Donate to The Skin Quilt Project!

The Skin Quilt Project, is a new documentary about the influence of the African American quilting tradition in encouraging an appreciation for African American cultural heritage. The main focus of the film is to discuss how quilting provides confidence and self-esteem to African Americans who quilt, specifically for those who have suffered from the affects of colorism or skin color prejudice within the African American community.

The film will feature interviews from African American students, professionals,artists, quilters, and scholars of African American culture, as well as footage of fellowship between women(and men) of African descent through quilting. By combining discussions on colorism with the influence of the African American quilting tradition, the hope is that African Americans dealing with insecurities about skin color can gain a deeper understanding of how to overcome the “color complex.” As some of the project participants confess, being apart of a community or group that joins together for a common creative purpose has proved to help individuals become better equipped to overcome or deal with social issues.

Currently the film is in the production process, as I’ve began filming in August 2009 in my hometown of Houston, Texas. So far the filming has created an awesome opportunity for me to connect with so many fascinating men and women, who were willing to make a contribution to the project. I’m just returning from my second trip to Houston, and in October through November 2009 I’ll begin a series of traveling to a number of locations including New York/New Jersey, Chicago, Ohio, South Carolina, Alabama, and possibly Michigan to interview participants.  Together the interviews will connect the core elements needed to communicate a well-rounded view of the subject.

I’m encouraging your financial support towards the project, as such traveling comes with tremendous costs, and requires an extensive amount of support to make it happen. From airfare to accommodations in each location the fees that put together a film can be an overwhelming task. I’ve made the great sacrifice to dedicate my time and finances to begin the production process, however, in order to fully accomplish this goal( completing production by the end of November 2009 and finishing post-production by the end of December 2009) it will take the help from outside sponsors to ensure that this project comes into fruition.

As far as future plans, I plan to submit the film to film festivals both nationally and internationally, and market the film for public broadcast and distribution once the post-production is complete(January 2009).

Due to the economic climate, I understand that the idea of giving may seem like a challenge, however, I urge you to consider contributing to this project and here are the reasons why…

1. I believe The Skin Quilt Project will make a tremendous impact and contribution to society.

2. Most importantly, your donations are tax-deductible!!

The Skin Quilt Project is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions in behalf of The Skin Quilt Project may be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Please know that your support is appreciated regardless of the amount, and I believe that there is never a donation too small. Note: Each person who gives towards the production of The Skin Quilt Project will be mentioned in the credits of the film.

There are two ways to donate online or by check. To make your donation online please click this link. Checks should be made payable to Fractured Atlas, with The Skin Quilt Project in the memo line. For donations of $1,000 or more please submit the attached Major Gift Letter form with your check. Please email me at info@skinquiltproject.com for where to send donations by check. Note: You can donate up to $5,000 on the online payment form, which you can get to on The Skin Quilt Project website or directly through the following link. If you’re planning to make an online submission let me know if you have any questions. Online submissions over $1,000 made through The Skin Quilt Project donation link don’t require the Major Gift Letter form.

Thanks for your time and generous support, and please feel free to contact me for any further details.

Sincerely,

Lauren Cross

Director, The Skin Quilt Project

info@skinquiltproject.com