Faith Ringgold

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Faith Ringgold
BEST KNOWN FOR Faith Ringgold is an American
artist and author who became famous for
innovative, quilted narrations like Tar
Beach that communicate her political beliefs.
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Growing up and heading to college

• Faith Ringgold was born Oct 8, 1938 in Harlem, a
  New York City neighborhood.
• Faith had asthma as a child and used art as a
  major pastime.
• Faith worked hard and attended City College
  of NYC. She
  enjoyed school so much she began teaching in NYC
  Public Schools!

3
Travels and Life Journey Inspirations

• Faith traveled to Europe to Paris, Nice, Florence
  and Rome!
• When she returned to the USA, she was so inspired
  to create art she turned her dining room into her
  studio.
• Faith married and had 2 children and said that
  storytelling of Black History in USA is something
  important to share with them.

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Faiths Footstep in U.S. History through Art

• In 1963 she began a body of paintings called the
  American People series, which portrays the civil
  rights movement from a female perspective.
• In the 1970s she created
• African-style masks, painted
• political posters, and actively
• sought the racial integration
• of the New York art world.

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Why she creates African AMERICAN art.

• Faiths quilts had themes of race and gender and
  their particular relation to the art world,
  including art history.
• She wanted her viewers to know she was an
  activist for social change for women and black
  people, particularly with regard to the American
  art museum system, which often omitted
  African-Americans and women from its exhibitions.

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Inspiration for story quilts

• Faith was inspired by Tibetan tankas paintings
  framed in cloth. She saw these in museums in
  Amsterdam, Holland.
• Her goal was to tie in narrative images and
  original stories of African American History.

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Examples of Story Quilts
Where is Sonny? What is Sonny holding? What is
the name of this landmark Bridge? Where is a
landmark bridge in MI?
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Examples of Story Quilts
Tar Beach
What is the setting of Tar Beach? Who are the
people in the painted part of the quilt? What are
the materials used in this piece of art?
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Examples of Story Quilts
What do you know about the Underground
Railroad? Who is the main character based
on? Where are they following Aunt Harriet?
Aunt Harriets Underground Railroad in the Sky,
1992
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Examples of Story Quilts
What does the flag symbolize to you? What is
representing our 50 white stars? Why? Why are
there words on the white stripes?
Flag Story Quilt