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
Call for Participants
About The Skin Quilt Project:
The Skin Quilt Project is a documentary and part-collaborative project that investigates the ways in which quilting has provided a common ground for the politics of skin tone. The film will feature women of African descent quilting together, openly discussing their own issues with colorism, and how by joining together they’ve been able to overcome.
Selection Criteria:
looking to feature scholars specializing in African and African American studies, or related fields to discuss the impact of quilting and colorism.
looking to interview contemporary artists of African descent who are using quilting as a medium or as a subject in their work[Artists who have used quilting in past work are acceptable].
looking to feature quilters and quilting groups who find the environment of quilting as a place where they can accept and appreciate their cultural heritage.
To Apply:
For Scholars and writers, please send a letter of interest( no more than 2 pages) detailing your research interests as well as your thoughts on how quilting impacts the politics of skin tone.
For Artists, 5 jpgs(72 dpi) and a letter of interest( no more than 2 pages) detailing how your work relates to quilting and the politics of skin tone.
For Quilters and quilting groups, please send a letter of interest detailing your individual or collective experience in relationship to quilting and the politics of skin tone.
Each Quilting group applying for consideration should submit a letter of interest for each member interested in participating, as well as a cover letter with detailed information about when, where, and for what purpose you meet for quilting( i.e. quilting group established by church, community, or social organization).
Send your materials to info@skinquiltproject.com by August 22, 2009
Deadline:
Letters of interest must be submitted by 5 p.m. on August 22, 2009.
For more information:
Contact: Lauren Cross
info@skinquiltproject.com
Check out our website for blogs, updates, and videos:
www.skinquiltproject.comm
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