In This Issue…
• Hot News: A TIME. A SEASON. A Visual Tribute to Oprah G. Winfrey
• Editor’s Perspective: No Coincidences…Going with the Flow
• Contemporary Fabric Artist: Zelda Grant, Finding Creative Solutions
Hot News: A TIME. A SEASON. A Visual Tribute to Oprah G. Winfrey
Black Art in America.com is publishing a book for Oprah Winfrey to commemorate her phenomenal 25 year run as daytime talk show host. It’s called A TIME. A SEASON. A Visual Tribute to Oprah G. Winfrey. Faith Ringgold, renowned artist and writer, is writing the preface. This is huge because the book is documenting 100 artists’ perspectives on Oprah for all time.
So when the call came out for artists to submit to this juried competition, I got busy developing a design because this project is historical. My piece, “Super O” is about a superhero because Oprah is an extraordinary black woman with amazing communication skills. Painting realities with words, she’s champion at her game and personifies the American rags to riches dream. “Super O” is made of paper and paint.
I’m pleased to announce it was selected.
A TIME. A SEASON. A Visual Tribute to Oprah G. Winfrey is scheduled to go to Oprah in January 2011.
Super O – mixed media – 37”x28”
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Editor’s Perspective: No Coincidences…Going with the Flow
A few weeks ago, a dear old friend offered me a coupon with a special offer to attend 7 consecutive days of Bikram “Hot” Yoga for $25.00. Desperately in need of some exercise and conveniently located near my home, I decided to accept the challenge. To my surprise and satisfaction, I survived the week!
The sign on the window read — 105 degrees, 90 minutes, 26 postures, but I had no idea what I was walking into. As I entered the exercise room to place my mat on the floor, heat enveloped my body from head to toe. Standing there in my sweat pants, as I looked around the room at people attired in shorts, I knew I should’ve read the dress code.
The heat is overwhelming and coupled with stretching through challenging yoga postures this is the most intensive workout I have ever experienced. Sweating profusely, my mind is questioning whether I will make it to the end, and not wanting to quit, I’m quietly coaxing myself to just do it. Fortunately as the days went by and my body gets acclimated, the routine is better, and what at first seemed like an eternity in hell became tolerable.
By Saturday, my body feels good, but is in need of rest and I feel I have done something good for my well-being. I doubt I will do 7 days straight again, but God be willing, I am going to continue on with the next challenge, taking classes at least twice a week for six months. Yoga’s brought new concerns into my life…What are the best drinks for replenishing and recovery? Will I ever be able to sit on my heels again? Do my shorts make me look fat? I’ve known for a while that I need more exercise then what I’ve been doing, but I wasn’t sure what it was I wanted to do. I’m really glad I went with the flow.
Peace!
P.S.
My new email address is jenneglover@gmail.com.
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Contemporary Fabric Artist: Zelda Grant, Finding Creative Solutions
Creating New Beginnings…
A Healing Journey
Zelda Grant and “Whitney the River Songstress”
Zelda Grant sent me an email suggesting I interview her for Voicing Art. I visited her website and to my surprise I found a rendition of my hand-crafted, oversized “Bag-Lady-Bag” I purchased from an artist at the Essence Festival in New Orleans in 2002. I soon learned she is in fact the same person and I am amazed that we have reconnected since she lives in rural Awendaw, South Carolina.
I use my bag exclusively for toting exercise clothes or for over night trips, and eight years later it still looks new. Zelda credits the bag’s longevity on her craftsmanship and using fabrics with the right weight. She explains at first she recycled coats and skirts to create the bags, but this method took too many hours to complete and wasn’t cost effective so she shifted to using upholstery fabrics. Zelda also designs wall hangings, fabric collages, and pillows. Her latest endeavor is sculpting clay buttons to use to accent her creations. She says doing art helps her breathe and it’s something she must do whether she’s paid or not.
Zelda is a fabric artist, arts educator, author, and founder of Chili ‘N DE MUD Foundation, a project of the National Heritage Foundation. The mission of Chili ‘N DE MUD is “changing lives by nurturing and feeding the creative spirit.” In her workshops Zelda encourages participants to tap into their creativity. When a student tells her they can’t draw, she asks what is it they like to do. What is their preferred medium, their calling? She encourages participants to do what they love and to make it part of their lifestyle. Eventually Zelda wants Chili ‘N DE MUD to establish an art farm where she can provide creative retreats for adults.
“Angel of Hope” Wall Hanging
She’s been facilitating workshops with children and adults since 1992 including the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta, Young Audiences of Atlanta, Inc., and In-School Programs through the Georgia Council for the Arts, the South Carolina Arts Commission, and for the Smithsonian Educational Associates in Washington, DC. In May 2003, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. awarded Zelda its annual Kuumba Tribute for advocating creativity. And, in 2005 she facilitated her first retreat for adults at the Crafts and Hobbyist Association Convention in Atlanta. Other venues featuring Zelda include Décor Magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine, Essence Magazine, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Living Section, Smithsonian Review, High Life – High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Craft & Needlework Age, Home & Garden Television, and Georgia Public Broadcasting.
Zelda’s fascination with textiles began at age 10 when she began constructing doll clothes from her daddy’s old socks. Textiles offer her countless options — she makes crafts and home decorations from them, paints them, tells stories about them, and wears them. Zelda says fabric designs and colors speak to her and let her know what they should be. She believes there are few mistakes in the creative process and she achieves creative solutions by being fluid. Her mantra, “a problem is an opportunity for a creative solution.”
She’s really excited about an invitation to visit a textile company in New York City where she will be introduced to the process of creating textile designs. She’s hoping to get a chance to work the equipment and explains this is what she wants to do next. This opportunity is a real boost to her spirit because in June she was diagnosed with cancer and sees this phase as her next life. Zelda says it’s time for her to begin working on projects she’s put off to do later and she acknowledges she’s on a healing journey.
Her advice to aspiring artists is to do your best job, because if you don’t, someone else will. She says creativity is about having fun, playing around with possibilities, and avoiding rigidity and letting people define you. Her biggest challenge is having the time, energy, and materials to create. Staying focused is another challenge although some of her best projects have come while she was working on another piece.
“Morning Rain” Wall Hanging
In 2002, Zelda authored Fabric Crafts: 15 Creative Projects and Home Accents You Can Make. This limited edition book published by North Light Books has sold nearly 10,000 copies. If you want an autographed copy she has a dozen copies remaining. Contact her at chilindemud@gmail.com; or 770-873-3136.
Pray for Zelda’s healing!
