The Skin Quilt Project

The Skin Quilt Project is a documentary that explores colorism in the African-American community. The film addresses this complex issue through the stories of African-American quilters, and the tradition of an artform that celebrates its culture. The quilters speak of the influence of the African-American quilting tradition as a tool for encouraging an appreciation in the African-American cultural heritage.

Colorism has been a long disputed issue within the African-American community, however, filmmaker Lauren Cross speculates that African-American quilters are much more grounded in their African roots. As Quilt historian Carolyn Mazloomi explains, African-American quilters "are joined by the thread of a needle” in which the quilting medium leaves no room for “color issues.”

As many African-American quilters come from families who have passed down quilting techniques to their children and grandchildren, today’s quilters represent African-American men and women who have become concerned with telling the story of their cultural heritage. In The Skin Quilt Project, the quilters tell the story of skin color politics in African-American culture, yet realizing the power of quilting to empower self-confidence in their community.

About the Artist:

Lauren Cross is a writer, activist, and interdisciplinary artist working in mixed media, photography, media arts, and installation art. Her current research interests include the issues of colorism and the “color complex” within the African American community, and her current work addresses ideals of beauty, race, and skin complexion in media imagery. She is also the founder and editor of CVAAD Projects( www.cvaad.com), an online blog and resource for contemporary visual art of the African diaspora. She received her BA in Art, Design, and Media from Richmond, The American International University in London, England, and MFA in Visual Arts from the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University, Cambridge, MA. She is currently a doctoral student in Women's Studies at Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas.

For more information,
please contact us at:
info@skinquiltproject.com

Quilting and Participant Links:
www.artbysshine.com
www.wendellgeorgebrown.net
http://blackthreads.blogspot.com
www.bluetrianglequiltguild.com
www.africanamericanartquilt.com
http://auburn.edu/academic/other
/geesbend/home.html
www.carolynlmazloomi.com/
http://richerichardsonartquilts.blogspot.com/
www.myspace.com/darianurbangriot
www.myspace.com/mahoganylbrowne

September 28

Image Caption: Brown, Wendell George, They Thankful Poor: Chicken Potatoes and String Beans. 5.5 ft x 5.5ft.

Skin Quilt Project Participant, artist Wendell George Brown, is widely exhibited African American artist and art professor at Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina. We are so excited to have his participation in the project as his work directly engages us in the use of skin color politics, yet his work “attempts to look at the politics of Black Skin as a tool of empowerment-not a tool to divide.” For him colorism stems from a western concept that was impemented within the African American community during slavery to “turn house slaves again field slaves.” His quilts place the context of ”black power” and strength into black skin.

In November 2009, we’ll be interviewing Mr. Brown along with a group of African American quilters from Charleston, South Carolina.

Donate to The Skin Quilt Project!

Art by participant Sherry Shine

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

September 27

Participant of The Skin Quilt Project, Dr. Madeline Wright, Professor of Psychology at Houston Community College holding up one her quilts. Dr. Wright was one of the founders of the Blue Triangle Quilt Guild and was once the director over the Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church’s young women’s rites of passage program.

In her segment of The Skin Quilt Project, Dr. Wright talks about the influence of having a “coming out” for young African American women. She has used the African American quilting tradition as a way for the young women to learn the history of African American quilters as well as develop confidence in who themselves.

A significant point that Dr. Wright encourages is the need for people to engage in activities that allow for fellowship in groups, such as quilting guilds. She explains that studies show that people who are are involved in groups “live longer and fuller lives.” I don’t know about you but that sounds like a great incentive to start interacting with one another, maybe even quilting and being a part of a quilt guild! Thanks to Dr. Wright for her participation in the project as well as all of the quilters in the Blue Triangle Quilt Guild. Stay tuned for more!

September 11

An episode from “Family Matters” called “The Quilt,”where there is a great reference to the african american quilting tradition. Laura accidently sells their family’s quilt to an art dealer without knowing how priceless the quilt was, and through searching and tears she tries to get it back. At the end Grandmother then tells the story of their family quilt. I think it tells a great story of the impact of african american quilting.

Just found a clip about a film in progress called, Light, Bright, Damn Near White, that is a film that is about colorism. Though I think it might include other minority groups as well not just the black community. I look forward to seeing the production when it comes out, we need as much discussion about this issue as possible.

You have to watch, A Girl Like Me, a documentary by Kiri Davis. I saw this documentary a few years ago and it is quite powerful. Believe me this is real people. These are our young women talking, sharing their experiences and prospectives. We need to start paying attention to some of the challenges that they are facing, it’s so crucial. These are some of the issues that will be discussed in The Skin Quilt Project, though I’ll be looking at creative expressions that have people successful in giving our young men and women a reason to embrace and appreciate their cultural heritage. Stay tuned for clips!

September 6

The Skin Quilt Project is fiscally sponsored!! Donations are tax deductible!

For those of you who didn’t know, The Skin Quilt Project is a non-profit documentary project produced purely on the notion that good information should be in the hands of those who are interested in learning more about African American culture. I’m proud to announce that The Skin Quilt Project has just been approved for fiscal sponsorship through an non-profit arts organization, allowing your donation to be tax-deductible! Click on the link above to donate online via credit card, but if you’re not interested in making your donation online, please contact me and I can send you information on where to send your donation. If you have specific questions about donating to The Skin Quilt Project email me at: info@skinquiltproject.com. Your support is greatly appreciated!

August 26

Amazing Participants!!

Last weekend began the production process for the Skin Quilt Project, and boy was it amazing. My first stop was in Houston, Texas, my home town, where I was able to interview quilters from the Blue Triangle Quilting Guild that meets at the Blue Triangle Multi-purpose Center. It was a wonderful experience to be introduced to their guild and to learn more about the world of quilting! I also had the chance to interview world-renown artist and quilter Carolyn Crump at her studio. She had some great words of inspiration about the ability for quilting to change lives. Just amazing!

I also had the opportunity to interview ph.d candidate Aundrea Matthews from Rice University, who had a wealth of knowledge that was overflowing. I’m so looking forward to put together some previews for those of you out there watching. Stay tuned to this website as I’ll be making updates every week!

I’m excited to report that we will have some great quilters being interviewed for this project, as well as scholars/researchers of African American culture. I feel very humbled to be able to speak with such awesome people for this project, and there is still so much more to go! Be sure to stay tuned…

August 17

MUST SEE: “Good Hair” a new documentary by Chris Rock, will be released in October and it’s a going to be a new contemporary discussion on “black hair.” It brings up some very interesting points, points that are very relevant to the discussion that we’ll be looking at in The Skin Quilt Project. There are definitely topics on the politics of skin tone that come up, though the main focus of course is the hair.

August 14

The Project in Context

Quilting has a significant history in the African American community, as a field of creative expression that has the ability to bring together and impart generations with cultural heritage.

The significance of quilting amongst black women in America can be traced back to slavery, such as the work of Harriet Powers. Generations of families have passed on quilting techniques to their offspring, leaving a significant legacy to be shared to the young in age. Throughout the past decade, quilting has also seen an uprise in its use by emerging quilters and quilting groups across the nation, as well as black artists using quilting as a medium or influence for their contemporary art practice. It is evident throughout history that quilting has engaged a certain discourse that references the past, tradition, and the emergence of new beginnings.

When we look at the presence of skin color biases in the African American community, we can see a similar parallel between the two. Like quilting, ideas around skin complexion have been passed down generation to generation.Skin-tone hierarchy systems can also be traced back to slavery, as they were used by plantations as a concept to create social classes and discord amongst the African slaves. Now centuries later, the affects of colorism^[1] has continued to divide and turn the black community against each other. Unlike quilting, the presence of “skin-tone inequality” has created a hidden barrier to our overall sense of racial freedom and equality.

Statistics have shown that black women tend to incur much more sociological affects from the politics of skin tone, from economical and social class to the men they marry. This notion also seems to reflect the tension experienced amongst the friendships of black women, where the risk of distrust and jealousy persist.

What is it about quilting that brings black women together? How does the quilting experience allow them to push aside their differences? Does quilting provide a platform to openly discuss what we have in common? Perhaps quilting allows one to recognize the relationship between our lives and others around us.

Colorism has often been the hidden “family secret” within the black community that is rarely discussed. The objective of this project is to begin to make strides towards closure, to see the links between quilting and skin. If quilting has provided opportunities for the enrichment of the black cultural heritage, how can quilting provide a means for us to understand and appreciate who we are? How can we begin to appreciate the “skin we’re in”?

^[1] Colorism is a term used to describe a system of discrimination where one experiences unjust or prejudicial treatment within their own race due to their skin complexion( light or dark).