Faith Ringgold
A Closer Look
Sometimes an artist pays tribute to other artists by incorporating them into artworks. Faith Ringgold has chosen to honor Vincent Van Gogh in a colorful quilt. How many ways has she done this? Around the edge of the quilt there’s writing. What do you imagine it says? Use construction paper and make a quilt of your own based on someone you admire. Write something about the person on pieces of paper and glue these around the edge of the quilt to make a border.
About the Sculpture
Sunflower Quilting Bee tells a story. A group of famous 19th and 20th century African-American women are holding a quilting bee. Here in Arles, France, they meet the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, who made paintings of sunflowers. The heroines pictured are: Madame C. J. Walker, Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Wells, Fannie Lou Hamer, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Mary McLeod Bethune and Ella Baker. What do you know about them?
About the Artist
When Faith Ringold was a little girl growing up in New York City she wanted to communicate and express her ideas through art. She began her artistic career as a painter but today she is best known for her painted story quilts, which combine painting and quilted fabric, and for her children's books. Her first book, Tar Beach was a Caldecott Honor Book. Since then she has written and illustrated eleven children's books.
Write About It
- Make a list of what you see.
- How did the artist use the elements and principles of design?
- What do you think the sculpture means? How does it make you feel?
- Select two sculptures to compare & contrast.
