Grace Matthews, Artist

Welcome to Grace Matthews blog

2011-03-23T18:40:00.000-07:00

Hi, that's me in my studio and Rudy's quilt is on the table (in the process of being quilted). Rudy's quilt is finished now and is the fourth work in "My American Family". "My American Family" is a series of painted quilts of (what else but) my family. I continue to add to and build on this series. Another ongoing quilt project is the Flower Series. The Flower series is inspired by color, California and Georgia O'keefe. As I find my way in this creative journey I have created a variety of Quilts and Textiles.

I'm an artist living in San Diego and I'm Faith Ringgold's artist assistant and have been since 1994. I paint, quilt, draw, make day of the dead boxes, dabble with encaustic (because of friends Anna & Judy), do ceramics, photography, commissions and pet memorials. I've enjoyed working on textile commissions like the Peace Quilt, Chuppa and something for the Metropolitan's new Uris Center. Because of my love for Pugs and the many pug Images I've created I've been commissioned to paint animal portraits too. I offer a variety of workshops on doll making, Quilt making and boxes.

I've been blogging since 2007 and have helped quite a few of my artist friends set up blogs of their own! I consider myself a novice technorati and I am happy to help anyone that wants tips on setting up their own blog. We are in a revolution, it's not Free Love like the 60's but the communication lines are wide open and since a picture says a thousand words artists you have to get your work on-line and Share it Freely, it's all love.
I've put images of my quilts, paintings, drawings, boxes and prints on this site. You can access everything including videos from the "On this Blog" list on your left. I've also added a list of friends, exhibitions and other sites.

Are you interested in hosting an exhibition? Take a look at exhibitions available for loan.

I welcome commissions and feedback so let me know what you think of the artwork and this blog. Here my email GraceMatthews1@aol.com.

Order prints of my work from Fine Art America

Take a look at exhibitions available for loan.

New from the studio

Welcome Quilt, 2011

Artists from left to right; Marva Wjitehead, Anna Stoa,

Jeanne Zvetina, Grace Matthews and Sarah Tippit.
I invited some talented friends help me make a quilt
for the San Diego Polinsky Children's Center.
The "WELCOME" quilt is 12.25 x 89 inches and acrylic
on canvas with fabric borders. It's bright and cheery
and it will be installed in the centers intake lobby.
The next project (in 2012) will be for the babies,
a high contrast kuba design quilt for their nursery.

New Print

Obama Again 2011
Limited edition silk screem
15 x 11 inches

Mahalia Jackson box and Flower Boards
at Stella Jones Gallery in New Orleans

New Flower Board
June 2011

New Deer Scroll
March 2011

family scrolls
family portraits and family photos are painted on these scrolls

Quilt Workshop

Faith Ringgold and I designed and led a quilt workshop
in Baie St. Paul, Quebec in Aug 2010. The Unity Makes Us Stronger Quilt was the result.

click here for more details about hosting a workshop at your venue.

Ongoing in the studio are these recycled CD mobils, babies love the patterns and reflections.
When the sun reflects off of the moving CD's the light moves and bounces around the room.

Haps and Project Archives

Flowers

2011-03-23T18:23:00.001-07:00

Flowers

This 2010 spring and summer I have been painting flowers on

8 x 8 wood panels.

the photo composite below illustrates the process.

I hunted down my flowers,

photographed them,

picked my four favorite photos,

made sketches from those photos,

then painted the panels.

I also did some drawings from the flowers but the flowers don't last long.

Freezia

Tulips

Daisies

Blossoms ( design for new print)

Lilly for Shelly's new house (large on paper)

9 11 Inspired Art

2010-08-30T16:50:00.001-07:00

Imagine : 2004

encaustic

8x8

Encaustic on wood panel

All We are Saying is give Peace a Chance : 2004

Encaustic

12 x 7

Encaustic on wood panel

Give Peace a Chance : 2006

encaustic

8x8

Encaustic on wood panel

Flower Flag, 2003

Peace Lilies : Flower Series #4

2005

Quilt

76.5x28

Acrylic on canvas

Collection: Faith Ringgold

Freedom : Tribute to 911

2002

Quilt

44 x 36

Acrylic on canvas

Valentine for USA : Day of the Dead Box # 7

2002

Box

6.5 x 6.5 x 6.5

Mixed Media

Message Me

2010-08-30T16:49:00.000-07:00

Linda Freeman Solo Show at SoHo20

2008-04-02T21:56:00.000-07:00

March 29, 2011 – April 23, 2011

Reception March 31, 2011

Linda Freeman’s imaginary views of the forest and plants at various times of the day is richly colored. Each image exudes a different mood and emotional tenor. Freeman paints in high drama with surging form, the plants serving as a symbol of life and the passage of time.

The resulting paintings do not depict actual events. Rather they represent the powerful emotional residue of her life experience. Despite their fresh improvisational appearance, Freeman’s work has developed painstakingly over many years. The techniques that mark her painting style include layers of acrylic overlaid with oil glazes, which allow for a delicate transparent effect. Freeman’s paintings are bordered with multi colored fabrics complementing the ethereal transparencies of the finished work.

Freeman's imagery is rooted in experience, memory and observed reality. Without her deeply felt emotional approach to art making, she couldn’t even begin to create such wonderful paintings. I love it! - Faith Ringgold

SOHO20 CHELSEA GALLERY

547 West 27th St.

Suite 301

NEW YORK, NY 10001

HOURS: TUES. - SAT. , 12 - 6 P.M.

PHONE: 212-367-8994

http://www.soho20gallery.com

Linda Freeman's web site and more about the show

Slide Show New Orleans March 2008

2008-04-02T21:55:00.001-07:00

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2008-03-17T20:41:00.007-07:00

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Quilts and Textiles

2008-03-17T20:41:00.005-07:00

1.My American Family Series

2. Flower Series

3. Images of a Variety of Qu ilts and Textiles

4. Peace Quilt

5. Ancestors Quilt Project ;Faith Ringgold, Linda Freeman & Grace Matthews

Ancestors Project in the works;

August, 2007 was spent finishing the "Our Ancestors" project. Take a look at the video. Shelly (my sweet daughter), thanks for the help quilting!

6. Chidren's Quilt Commission Project for the

Metropolitan Museum of Art's

Uris Center October 2007

CBS covers the Metropolitan's Uris Center opening

Tricks for the Artist

This project was for a workshop at the Met's new Uris Center. One week-end (Th-Sun) in September I spent 33 hours in the studio measuring, cutting and sewing. Thankfully, Shelly and Anna helped so I wasn't alone. I had estimated that I could knock this project out in one afternoon. Boy, was I wrong! Faith said that, under estimation is a psychological tactic. When you employ this tactic you convince yourself that the upcoming project is not really so big or so bad, that it will not take much time and that in fact it's a piece of cake. This method of trickery helps you to tackle the biggest of projects and makes the project less daunting and more manageable. Try it yourself !

Exhibitions

2008-03-17T20:41:00.003-07:00

"List of Exhibitions"

"Voices in Cloth"

"Ancestors Exhibition"

"Cradle Project"

Projects, News and Haps

2008-03-17T20:41:00.001-07:00

Projects and News

.l.l.l.l.l.

January 26, 2008

My cousin, folk artist, Robert E Smith came for a visit to give a workshop in San Diego on January 26, 2008. Find out more about Robert E Smith.

February 2008

I made a red print at the Experimental Print Institute in February 2008. I accompanied Anna Stoa and Marva Whitehead to EPI take a look at what anna and Marva had to say about their printmaking experience. "Printmaking video at EPI"

Red, 2008

4 x 4 inches

silkscreen edition of 22

$100

March 2008

Faith Ringgold and I went to New Orleans to give three Doll workshops to kids and NAEA participants in March. You can download a dollmaking worksheet and see a slideshow of our visit. Slide show of our New Orleans visit.

On-going and in the studio In the Studio
My sister Sue's portrait has been put on hold to work on Elvis the burro's commission and make boxes for the La Jolla Athenaeum show in September.

Sue: The central portrait is complete. YEA! The painted borders will be attached next. Then to finish the quilt I'll add the batting and backing and it all will get quilted.

Boxes, Boxes & Boxes

I've been making lots of new boxes. The Day of the Dead boxes are an homage to people that I have a deep admiration for. The new Day of the Dead boxes are dedicated to; Ray Charles, Coretta and Martin Luther King, James Brown, Georgia O'Keefe, and Zora Neal Hurston. I've made some boxes that are simply a celebration of texture and another is celebration of Spring. See them all on-line and at the LaJolla Atenaeum on September 19,2008.

April-June, 2008
I finished the "Elvis" commission, yeah! This mural will be placed on the front of a refrigerator in a new custom home in AZ.

End of July
Almost completed a family portrait scroll for Sandi but it needs something more, maybe one more painting at the top.

July 26, 2008
Dada Birthday Party
We had fortunes told, practiced the hula-hoop and played a Dada Portrait Painting Game at my party last night. I'll post photos and movies soon.

"Studio events open to the public"

Tips and Tricks form Artists

2008-03-17T20:40:00.000-07:00

Whenever I "hit a wall", I spend an hour cranking out embellishments. Most itmes, I'll have my concentration back before the hour is even over.
Renee Richetts

When I'm uncertain of direction, I clean up the studio. Just sorting and handling materials generally leads to new sketches.
Susan Richards

When I get stuck, or need inspiration I go for a walk with my camera in the park or the beach, away from the distractions.
Stacie Birky Greene

Dale Chihuly finds inspiration in water. He lives in Washington state and walks in the rain. He also soaks in the bath.
Dale Chihuly

Faith Ringgold taught me this tip. When you have a project that is overwhelming in scope convince yourself that the project is not really soooooo big, it's definatley not to big for you to handle and you can finish it in a short amount of time.
Faith Ringgold

I sit in my studio not expecting to accomplish anything. I just look and relax. It is important to be in my studio each day or when I can. If I see a motif that I would like to draw, I draw it right away before it gets cold and looses it's power.
I just start drawing or painting to make marks. When I get stuck I start another. Eventually one of the images takes on more meaning for me.
PA Lamb

I have a ritual to get 2 working. Enter studio with coffee, lots of bags & my dog Lita. Read paper. Make a list or review list. Write in journal. Walk around work area.I'm in. I usually have several projects going at one time so I'm never at a loss of what 2 do.
Anna Stoa

Rudy's Nose Job

2007-10-01T15:29:00.001-07:00

Quilts and textiles

2007-10-01T15:28:00.004-07:00

Chuppa Commission

2007-10-01T15:28:00.003-07:00

Faith Ringgold's 2005 Commission for a Wedding Chuppa
Construction by Grace Matthews
(power point for a 2007 conference on art in the digital age)

Robert E Smith

2007-10-01T15:28:00.001-07:00

"bob".

"bob 1".

"bob 2".

Pet Stories

2007-09-20T13:45:00.005-07:00

Cina and Elle’s Beginning

By Cina Canada

Feb 22, 2010

One afternoon I was in my upstairs loft on Commercial St. I heard a loud yelping noise that was so piercing I though something had been hit on the street outside. I ran down to see what had happened. It was a little black pup, about 3 months old, trying to resist as she was being pulled by a chain wrapped around her neck. Her paws were out front desperately trying to stop. But the woman dragging her was in a drunken stumble and unwilling to stop. I quickly made my way to her and asked her if I could pet her puppy. She wobbled a bit and then stopped and said, "Yeah, I guess. Life's a bitch, though. I had to learn and she'll have to learn some time too." She stopped.

The lady looked very worn and vacant; tired. I imagined she was treating the puppy much like she had been treated in her life. I bent down to pet the puppy and when I did the puppy immediately came to me and tried to hide under my legs as I was crouched on the sidewalk. The fear in her eyes, the strained, furrowed brow made my whole body tense and ready to rescue. Then, my heart really began to pound as I noticed the chain was not a leash, connected to a collar, but rather a hook latched to a link on the chain. There was no give and it was tight around her neck, chocking her as she was being pulled.

In short, after some negotiation, a trip to the ATM and will to “make a run for it with the pup if things didn’t go well,” the woman finally staggered off with, conceding to a $27 trade. I watched the woman go, with the puppy in my arms. She was pressed into me as if to say, “please don’t let me go.” So, I didn’t. We walked to the curb and sat down. After about 10 minutes I said, “Well, guess it’s you and me, now,” and we were off to the vet!

Ella ended up having some health concerns but eventually grew to be a happy, healthy, loving, snuggler. Some years later I found where she had come from. Most of her litter had died of Parvo. While walking Ella one day, I even ran into the woman I had rescued her from. She was sober and asked if I was the girl who bought a black puppy from her. I said yes and she responded, “I wasn’t in much of a position to take care of her at the time. I’m glad to know she went to a good home.”

Dr. Birdie

by Faith Ringgold

3/31/09

One afternoon Birdie came home from work. He lived in a big 14th floor apartment with his wife, Faith and their two daughters. When Birdie walked in the door Faith asked him to take care of their bird, Dinah. Dinah, a parakeet had been recently diagnosed with a cold. The doctor prescribed a very complex regiment of medications. The treatment included pills to crush, drops to be put in Dinah’s water and drops to be administered directly to the sick little bird. Birdie said, Faith, I’m tired can I just sit down for a minute?” So he took off his coat, walked over to look at the patient, opened her cage door, opened the window and sat down to rest. Freedom called Dinah so she made a break for it and flew out the open window.

Baby’s Goldfish

Faith Ringgold

3/31/09

Baby Faith had a little goldfish that lived in a glass fishbowl. It was Saturday morning and time to clean the bowl so Faith took the fishbowl into the bathroom to take care of her fish. Faith’s big brother Andrew was there to help, her scooped up the goldfish to move it to a little cup while they cleaned it’s bowl. When Andrew dropped the little fish into the cup she jumped out and flipped and slithered around on the slippery tile floor until she was under the claw-foot tub. Andrew thought the whole thing was very funny but baby Faith screamed and cried because the little fish was out of reach.

Mr. Smilie goes to camp

Faith Ringgold

3/31/09

Revised drawing below new hair styles no lamp.

Barbara and Michele were old enough to pack their own suitcases for summer camp. They brought swimsuits, shorts, sneakers, sun hats and their frog, Mr. Smilie. The girls rode on a big bus to camp. The camp was on a lake and in the woods. The sisters shared a cabin with other girls. All the campers were kept very busy with hiking, boating, swimming, games, crafts, singing and more. It was a fun place for kids to be during the summer. On parent’s visitation day the campers showed off the camp. Barbara and Michele took their mom, Faith to see the camp’s lake, the lodge and the cabin where they slept. Faith looked all around the cabin. It was filled with bunk beds, a few chairs and shelves for the camper’s clothes, books and essentials. Faith asked the girls, where is Mr. Smilie? Then on a high shelf Faith spotted the box the girls had brought Mr. Smilie to camp in. Mr. Smilie was in his box but it was as dried up and dead as dead can be.

Herd Dog, Prairie
Renee Richetts
Feb 20, 2009 at 6:55am
I used to have a dog named Prairie who would herd the neighbors' ducks to our house when they got out of their yard. Quite a sight.

Close Relationship
by Anna Stoa
Feb 20, 2009
Lita, the lovely Doxie sweetie of my life likes to run into the bathroom when I go, begs me to pick her up so she can sit on my lap while I go to the bathroom. Its a close relationship.

Ferocious Yorkie
by Anna Stoa
Feb 20, 2009
I had Thelma, a Yorkie for 13 years. She was especially ferocious while riding in the car, barking at other dogs she saw in other cars or just walking with their owners out and about. Her paws scratched up and down on the inside of the car window; it must have looked like she was waving to others as we passed by.I especially enjoyed her barking at the statues of lambs in the front of a church. Guess they looked like dogs out and about to her. It always made me laugh.

Incredible Journey
by Trish Maunder
Feb 20, 2009
I have three cats: black, old and sultry Mr. Darcy, elegant and sophisticated Abyssinian, Chloe, and rough and tumble little Calico, Lily. And then I have Alfie, my perky little Yorkie. Life with these four is like the "Incredible Journey," when I take Alfie out for a walk, the others all come too.. down the street, into the woods, over to the field. Sometimes they run behind and other times next to us, it is quite a sight! Passers by always stop to watch this unusual furry procession.

Missy scarf
by Jacquie Bossert
Feb 2, 2009
"Missy, our current kitty has decided that she likes to ride on my shoulders.
She gets up and drapes herself from one shoulder to the other and purrs and
drools with happiness! This is OK when she first gets her Soft Paws on all her
claws - but as they wear off it's not much fun for me. I never put up w/any of
this "stuff" w/my kids - so why do I let a pet do it????"

Gertrude and the Kittens
Gail Dershem-Whitehead
February 9, 2009

When we lived on the farm, we had an amazingly dedicated mother cat who'd often take over nursing kittens for other cats who'd been killed (usually by coyotes). This cat's name was Gertrude. Ironic name if you know the plot of Hamlet, huh? When I was about a year old, my mom came up to my room to check on me during nap time and
Gertrude had delivered a litter of kittens in my crib. Mom says she took the damaged sheets and blanket, put them in a box, along with Gertrude and the kittens, and put the box in a warm corner of barn. Later that afternoon, Mom spied Gertrude bringing the kittens, one by one, down the chimney, up the stairs, and back to my crib. I guess that explains why I still have fleas!

Cow Story
JC Dershem
at 1:53pm February 7, 2009

Okay, here is one of the famous JC and Cow story. I was two and one of the cows from a neighboring farm wondered onto our farm. I was playing in the mud, this was my favorite past time, and a cow walked up behind me, mooed and I crapped my diaper. The family thinks this is very funny, I think it is a normal reaction from a two year old.

The Cat Came Back
Jonathan and Joelle's
January 23, 2010
Joelle found a yellow tabby cat wandering around out on the streets of Encinitas. She could tell he was homeless so she took him in. With two cats at home already Joelle’s husband, Jonathan, thought they had enough cats and that a two cat limit was a very good limit. So Joelle found a nice home for the stray tabby. But the cat came back. Joelle found another home for the stray kitty but the cat came back again. Joelle made a third attempt to send the cat now called Damian to live with a sweet old couple but the cat came back the very next day. The cat came back they thought he was gone but he kept coming back. Damian was meant to be with Jonathan and Joelle and it would be no other way.

Now Damian lives to be sweet to Joelle and torment Jonathan. Damian opens cabinets and doors. He opens Jonathans bedroom door at night, climbs up on a dresser then jumps onto Jonathan’s chest. Jonathan used to like to work at his computer late at night wearing only his bathrobe until Damian took a swat at his dangly bits. Joelle said she’s never heard a scream like that one ever before.

Cradle Project

2007-09-20T13:45:00.003-07:00

Cassandra, 2008

28 L x 18 W x 19 H

Mixed Media

We are thankful to have the opportunity to add our voices to promote awareness of the circumstances that the sub-Saharan African orphaned children are experiencing. The title of our piece is taken from Greek mythology. Cassandra was the child of King Priam of Troy. Cassandra has the power to predict the future and the curse that no one believes her. She can predict disasters such as the Trojan horse. In our work Cassandra’s power is again an insistence to take notice of the situation and the need to help the children now and this time we believe.

We take care to infuse love into our cradle, to build in the comfort of an infants cradle. The cradle must rock to sooth and reassure. The sides are created from old clothing woven into the cradle’s sides to emphasizes that no baby can fall through the cracks. The soft pillows are made from Mom’s sweet old pajamas and stuffed with recycled bubble wrap.

The recycled elements are a metaphor for the 48 million children whose first lives included parents and now their new lives do not. Yet the potential for their lives to be safe, happy, beautiful and supported does exist. If there is enough potential in pieces of scrap to make a structure which cradles a child, then the possibility of a bright future also exit for the orphans of sub-Saharan Africa.

The children need our assistance! Cassandra represents one of 1000 efforts to contribute to the Cradle Project. Believe Cassandra's prophesy and help the children now.

Dorothy Annette

Grace Matthews
February 27, 2008

San Diego, CA

Learn more about the "Cradle Project"

"Make a donation" to the cradle project

"Contact cradle project" to get involved.

Exhibitions for Loan

2007-09-20T13:45:00.001-07:00

Voices in Cloth

"Voices In Cloth: Story Quilts," an exhibition featuring Faith Ringgold, Linda Freeman, and Grace Matthews. Was organized for the University of Southern Mississippi Museum of Art and was exhibited on August 12-October 2, 2004. Voices in Cloth is available to loan to museums and galleries. There is no fee to host this show other than the cost of transportation and wall to wall insurance.

Download the PDF version of the exhibition catalog pdf . The 20 page, color catalogue includes a foreword by Tony Lewis, Ph.D., Director of the University of Mississippi Museum of Art, as well as essays by Lisa E. Farrington, Ph.D. Design by Julie Meridy.

If you are interested in having this exhibition at your gallery or museum, please contact

Linda Freeman at 914-238-9366 or email her at videopaint2@msn.com.

Alternate contact: Grace Matthews (858) 576-0397 M-TH 9am -4pm pacific time

Photos of Voices in Cloth Exhibition in Texas in September 2007
link to catalog

Faith Ringgold, Grace Matthews, Emanual Albu and Linda Freeman at the Queens Library 2008

*******************************************

Ancestors Exhibition

Linda, Faith and Grace in NYC at the reception for the Ancestors Project in October 2007

Works from the Ancestors Exhibition (<- click to see more) can be combined with the Voices in Cloth Exhibition to make a larger show.

Workshops

2007-05-25T08:10:00.000-07:00

Quilt Workshops

Teach Today Touch Tomorrow
Quilt Making Workshop

The Foundry, St. Charles, Mo 11 11 11

Unity Makes Us Stronger

This quilt was created in a workshop on
Saturday, August 28, 2010 in Baie StPaul, Quebec
at the International Artists Symposium.
It is in the collection of the
Musee D'Art Contrmporain de Baie St Paul
click here to see more photos of the workshop

American Dream
Quilt Workshop
North Carolina Art Education Association Conference

American Dream Quilt Making Workshop

October 24, 2009

Met's Uris Center
Quilt Project 2007

Faith Ringgold and Grace Matthews
designed and constructed this two quilt project for
Met Museum's 2007 Uris Center dedication.
Children from two area elementary schools
came to the Met to complete this project.
the quilt squares are tied together by colorful pieces of yarn.

Peace Quilt, 2006

Peace Quilt (workshop/commission) Faith Ringgold and Grace Matthews completed the design and construction of the Peace Quilt.The children designed and painted the individual squares in IRC workshop sessions. IRC, Peace Quilt Reviews and travel itinerary

Portrait Doll Workshop

Portrait Wrap Doll

Age: 8 to adult

Objective: To create a soft sculpture using your own portrait and recycled materials.

Materials: Snapshot photo of your face or the face of someone you love, a roll of heavy weight aluminum foil 17” wide, fabric strips, needle, thread, scissors, glue, pins, costume jewelry, string, yarn, cord, buttons and broken or discarded costume jewelry.

Description: This 2 - 4 hour workshop makes use of everyday and recycled materials. Photo is glued to a cardboard oval, then glued to fabric that will cover the head. An armature is created from aluminum foil. Fabric strips are wrapped repeatedly over the foil until the armature has been strengthened and the sculpture has taken shape. String or yarn is wrapped over the fabric strips providing additional strength and fixes the loose ends of the fabric. The final step is to add the hair, clothing and adornments using buttons, beads, yarn and costume jewelry.

Preparation: Take a photo with your subject facing forward. The face should fit into a 2” high x 1.75” wide inch oval. Collect fabric donations. The fabric can come from old clothing, linens and leftover yardage. You will need about 1.5 yards of fabric per doll. The fabric should be cut into strips about 1 to 2 inches wide and as long as possible. Collect discarded costume jewelry, string, yarn, thread, cord, buttons, zippers, snaps and beads to add details to the sculpture. Beauty is in the details.

Directions:

1. Cut 20 to 50 strips of fabric 1” to 2” wide and as long as possible.

2 A - Cut one large fabric circle 10” diameter.

This circle will cover the head.

Choose color to match your skin tone.

2 B - Cut four fabric circles each with a 5” diameter.

These small circles will cover feet and hands

2 C - Cut a 1.75” x 2” oval from stiff cardboard.

Use cardboard oval as a template to trace around

the face on your photo, then cut out the photo of your face.

The direction continue on in an illustrated and very detailed direction packet that is available to download. Access the instruction packet from the link bellow.

Doll Instruction sheet

Download a Portrait Doll Instructions Sheet pdf

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Art Teachers

created portrait wrap dolls at a workshop with

Faith Ringgold and Grace Matthews

on October 23, 2009

The link below has images of doll making workshops with children and with adults in New Orleans.

Photos from our visit to New Orleans & NAEA

Day of the Dead
Box Workshop

Susan Richards created this touching memorial box for her Mother (in a workshop).

The piece is abundant with loving memories and meaning.

Susan will tell you all about it in this sweet informative video.

Thanks Susan!

Read Comments

2007-04-29T18:46:00.000-07:00

To leave a comment click on the "leave a comment" link below or send me an e-mail at gracematthews1@aol.com.

Acey said...
I am completely smitten with this[flower] series

Suzy said...
Having contacted you in the past for Faith Ringgold info for two of my books (Storybook Art and Discovering Great Artists), I was pleased to read up on "YOU"...and all your wonderful art. I've enjoyed going through your blog -- your personality comes through as fun and bright and contemporary. All good things, right?
MaryAnn Kohl
www.brightring.com
12:10 PM

Comments on Peace Quilt:

Faith said...You have done a wonderful job and I am so proud of you. There will be many more commissions to come. This is great. Everyone will love it. Can't wait till the kids see it at their New York preview. Faith

Barbara F. said...Grace, you've got this blogger thing down pat. And the 'Peace Quilt' that you and Faith have created is magnificent. Thanks for sending it to me. Barbara.

Anonymous said...
Grace: As usual, both you and Faith have outdone yourself. I am so proud of you and being part of your family. I love you very much.

Grace Yun says: The quilt's absolutely exquisite!

Thank you for putting your talents and energy into making the world a better place in such a beautiful way! Your work and the way you do it are wonderfully inspiring. May the seeds you plant here nourish many generations to come.
Diane Gage

Bright Ring said...
Peace matters, and what you have done matters too. Involving children in forward thinking peaceful ventures in an excellent way to invite them to be peaceful adults in their futures. Congratulations!

MaryAnn KOhl, art author for kids
www.brightring.com
3:38 PM

Files

2007-02-15T16:01:00.000-08:00

Flower Series

2006-11-26T21:34:00.000-08:00

The Flower Series is a collection of brightly colored quilted paintings inspired by nature, color and Georgia O'Keefe. This series is on-going and I have plans to paint a Magnolia blossom and the Nightshade plant next. Double click to see larger images and make comments by clicking on the tiny comments link at the bottom of each section. Big White Flower: Flower Series #1, 2003
54 x 58

Red Poppy: Flower Series #2, 2004
59 x 54

Four Red Poppies: Flower Series #3, 2005
90 x 28

Peace Lilies: Flower Series #4
76.5 x 28

Three Flowers: Flower Series #5, 2005
70 x 30.5

Ceramics

2006-11-22T05:42:00.000-08:00

Family

2006-11-01T14:59:00.000-08:00

Grace Matthews, Bio

2006-10-30T20:19:00.000-08:00

Contemporary American artist, Grace Matthews honors the importance of family, community, peace, beauty and fun in her painted quilts and Day of the Dead boxes. As a painter Matthew’s pallet is saturated with bright color and pattern reminiscent of pop art. Her visual content is grounded in the personal and emotional experiences of daily life.

Grace Matthews graduated cum laude from the University of California, San Diego in 1994, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. While studying at UCSD, Matthews began to work for her mentor, internationally known artist Faith Ringgold. As Ms. Ringgold’s Artist Assistant, Matthews is responsible for administrative tasks, research and studio work.

Currently Matthews shares a studio with two local artists in San Diego and is a member of the National Association of Women Artists, WCA and holds the position of VP for Anyone Can Fly foundation, a non-profit organization focused on impacting history by including Masters of the African Diaspora into the art establishment canon.

Resume
Education
BA 1994 University of California, San Diego (cum laude)

Grants/Awards
2005 Anyone Can Fly Foundation Print scholarship

Solo Exhibitions
2005 Grace Matthews: Quilt & Boxes,
Borelli Space San Diego, CA

2008 Grace Matthews: Boxes
La Jolla Athenaeum Music and Arts Library, La Jolla, Ca
Sept 20-Nov 8, 2008

Group Exhibitions
July 3, 2009
Create an American Dream Quilt
Children’s Museum of Manhattan, NYC

June 30- September 14, 2008
Voices in Cloth: Story Quilts
Queens Library Gallery
Jamaica, NY 11432

September 19 - November 8, 2008
Boxes
The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library
La Jolla, CA 92037

October 14, 2008
Anyone Can Fly Foundation Annual Exhibition/auction “Passion”
ACA Gallery
New York, NY

March 2008
The Cradle Project
New Mexico Community Foundation
Albuquerque, NM

September 3 - 26, 2007
Ancestors Project: A collaboration with Faith Ringgold, Grace Matthews and Linda Freeman
“National Association of Women Artists”
New York, NY 10011

September 14 - November 4, 2007
“Voices in Cloth”
Stephen F. Austin State University's Griffith Gallery
Nacogdoches, TX 75962-3022
“Voices in Cloth catalog, pdf”

October 14, 2007
Anyone Can Fly Foundation Annual Exhibition/auction “It’s All Love”
ACA Gallery
New York, NY

January 21 - February 22, 2007
National Association of Women Artists - "Personal Totems"
Adelphi University Ruth s Harley University Center Gallery
Garden City, NY

May 5 – 17, 2007
DOGS ARE PEOPLE TOO: PORTRAITS OF MAN’S BEST FRIEND
Grace Matthews, Curator, Borelli Space San Diego, CA

March 2007
Women’s Caucus for Art: Women’s Work,
San Diego Women’s History Museum
San Diego, CA

March 5 – April 4, 2007
SoHo Creative’s Women Group Show
73 Warren Street New York, NY 10007

October 15, 2006
Anyone Can Fly Foundation Auction and Exhibition at ACA Gallery
Peace Quilt debut
New York, NY

2005

Dada Art Portraits
Sushi, San Diego, CA

May 8-28, 2004
WCA Spring Exhibition San Diego, CA

October 2004
El dia deLosMuertos, Next Door Gallery San Diego, CA

August 12 – October 2, 2004
Voices in Cloth
Southern Mississippi Museum of Art

Sept 18 –Nov 12, 2004
Group Show Boreill Space
4421 Park Blvd San Diego, CA

Sept 2 – October 1, 2003
Vexillology: The American Symbol in Art, Garden City, NY
Fire house gallery, Nassau Community College, Garden City

1999 -2000
Sewing Comfort Out of Grief
NIAD Art Center Richmond, CA (touring show)

1999 Cross–Cultural Center Gallery, UCSD, La Jolla CA
Womanhood from 1990-1999

1998 The Framemaker, San Diego CA
Woman’s Work

1998 Cross-Cultural Center Gallery, UCSD, La Jolla CA
The Politics of Womanhood

1998 San Diego Center for the Healing Arts, San Diego CA
The Healing Show

1997 Paladion 5th, San Diego CA
Annual Members Show Women’s Caucus for Art

1995 The Art Union Building Women’s Caucus for Art, San Diego CA
Self Reflections

October 18, 1993
The American Family: Inside Out
Creative At Workshop New Haven, CT

Collections

Commissions
2008 Elvis
2007 Wedding Huppa
2007 Met Museum Uris Center Quilt
2006 Inter Relations Collaborative Peace Quilt
2005 BHC Quilt project

Public Collections
Anyone Can Fly Foundation
2008 San Diego Athenaeum Music and Arts Library

Current Employment
1993 to present Faith Ringgold Inc
127 Jones Road Englewood, NJ 07631
(201) 816-1374
www.faithringgold.com

Affiliations

Women's Caucus for Art San Diego, past president

National Association of Women Artists, member

Current Gallery Representation
none

Exhibitions

2006-10-30T15:31:00.000-08:00

June 30- September 14, 2008
Voices in Cloth: Story Quilts
Queens Library Gallery
89-11 Merrick Boulevard
Jamaica, NY 11432

September 19 - November 8, 2008
Boxes
Reception Friday, September 19, 2008
The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library
1008 Wall Street La Jolla, CA 92037
General Information: (858) 454-5872

For information on the loan of artwork and two curated shows go to the link below;
“Voices in Cloth & The Ancestors ”

Past exhibitions:
Sept 3 - 26, 2007
Reception September 13, 2007
Ancestors Project: New Work and a collaboration by Faith Ringgold, Grace Matthews and Linda Freeman
“National Association of Women Artists”
80 Fifth Ave., Suite 1405
New York, NY 10011
212-675-1616

September 14 - November 4, 2007
“Voices in Cloth”
Stephen F. Austin State University's Griffith Gallery
Nacogdoches, TX 75962-3022
Phone: 936-468-2801
“Voices in Cloth catalog, pdf”

We would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to Christian Cutler and the Steven F Austin Museum for hosting the Voices in Cloth exhibition. We wish we could be there with you all but we are so glad that you have come out to se the show.

The Voices exhibition is unique in that we three artists are friends, we all make quilts and we are always finding inspiration in one another to do the work we love. Linda and Grace have been inspired by Faith Ringgold to express themselves in the quilt medium. The quilt is a wonderful context rich in connections to femininity, family history and comfort. Most of all we hope that you enjoy the show and find the inspiration to do more of what you love.
May 15-17, 2007
San Diego, CA
Dorothy Annette and I organized this show and it was a lot of fun. Take a look at the images if you love dogs you will love these photos. “Dogs are People Too: Portraits of Man’s Best Friend”

January 21 - February 22, 2007
National Association of Women Artists - "Personal Totems"
Adelphi University Ruth s Harley University Center Gallery
Garden City, NY 11530-0701
Take a look at “images from Personal Totems exhibition ”

October 15, 2006
New York, NY
Anyone Can fly Foundation Auction and Echibition at ACA Gallery in NYC
Peace Quilt debut
“video”

Pugs, Pug, Pugs

2006-10-29T12:04:00.001-08:00

I love Pugs and making images of them.
Zoe & Rudy, My Muses

Wednesday, December 21, 2005
10:32:42 PM EST
Feeling Sad
Sweet Sweet Zozee
This Christmas will be a sad one without our little girl. I miss her so much.
She was so hilarious. She only liked cat toys. She loved
little puff balls attached to long strings. She loved to watch t.v. and bark at the animals
in shows and on commercials. She would memorize the music in the background of dog
food comercials so just in case she was far away from the t.v. she would know to run to
the screen and attack. I miss her.
Shell

Comment from Friends:
I'm sorry that your friend has left you. Take comfort knowing that she is in a better place now.
Love, Sweet Sista Barbara.

Friday, December 16, 2005
10:05:14 AM EST
Feeling Sad
Angel Zoe
Zoe: November 2000 - December 13, 2005

Zoe died from PDE. Now there is an empty place in our hearts and home.
Dog beds are vacant, puff balls lay still and food is left uneaten.
No Buddah belly to rub. A million tears will say goodbye to our sweet girl, Zoe.

Favorite Memories:
Zoe was a super fetcher! In the park she did it with a hot pink mini super ball
and she was precision in motion returning and dropping the ball at your feet everytime!
Perfection!

Zoe entertained family and friends by becoming a crazed barking fiend
everytime there was a dog on TV.

Zoe was a lap dog that loved to perch on your legs.

Zoe was curiuos and would follow everyone around the house especially into the bathroom,
she would get pets there.

Pug Dog Encephalitis (PDE) Project
http://www.cvm.tamu.edu/cgr/pde_project.htm

Messages from friends:
12/16/05 I am so sad to hear that Zoe has left us. Magic dog will also be sad when he visits Rudy
and Zoe doesn't great him. Zoe taught Magic so much! How to ask for what you want from
your people. They had food issues in common and Zoe taught him how to talk to me and to
remind me when it was time for dinner. She was so sweet. I miss her.- Dorothy Annette

I was so proud of this print that Gracie was making for Zoe. I didn't know Zoe personally and I don't know Rudy personally but I have love for them both. They are very sweet doggies, and they are Gracie's friends. You will be sorely missed Zoe. And I pray for peace in Rudy's little Pug heart. I love you, Gracie. God Bless from Your sweet sista' Barbara.
Comment from acffinc - 12/16/05 2:02 PM

Monday, November 14, 2005
12:02:52 PM EST
Matt
My Buddy Rudy:
I can attest to Rudy's raw physical power to attain extremely high speeds
while running on flat ground or up stairs and around obstacles. I can not
outrun him, even with a generous headstart, he just pulls his head up and
pugruns like a champion, defeating me everytime. Of course, as a good sport,
he is always gracious in victory. One word I would describe, my friend,
Rudy with, is.... HEART. - Matt

12:14:22 AM EST
Feeling Happy
Hi my name is Rudy
Hello Future Friends,
My name is Rudy (my friends call me Rude dog) and I am a six year old
black pug. I am the sweetest dog that you will ever meet. I love to chase
my frisbee and cuddle with my favorite people. I am one of the fastest pugs
on the planet, I have even out run a Great Dane. I like to show off for
company and hump my leopard skin bed. I am a constant source of
love and entertainment.

Sunday, November 6, 2005
Zoe attacks the Shark Vac
Cleaning Day
This morning is cleaning day. Dust bunnies watch out!
The new Shark vac sucks up the dog hair and dustballs
but it brings out the maniac in Zoe. Zoe barks and attacks
the vac like a pug possessed. She had a good workout today
with all the vacuming.

Comment from barbaracompany - 12/17/05 9:48 AM: She looks
like a reall go getter in this picture. Zoe looks like she could take
on the world here. Very lion-hearted! Bless her.

My American Family: A Collection of Contemporary Family Portraits

2006-10-29T12:02:00.001-08:00

The My American Family series by Southern California artist Grace Matthews personifies her experience of the unbounded nature of family love, and her recognition of that love as a requisite ingredient of life. In this grouping of quilted paintings, Matthews honors those she loves with large-scale, vividly hued, full-length portraits conceived in an unpretentious style that merges element of Pop and vernacular art. Bold, reductive figural forms, expressionistic brushwork, and stark frontality mark her portrayals, which include, among others, the unexpected depiction of her dog Zoe, staring solemnly at the viewer. The checker lime border and dazzling pink background (accented with psychedelic square-patterned piping that recalls 1960s textile designs) amplifies the Pop Art quality of the artist’s drawing style, which features heavy outlines and a visual shorthand of repeated shapes and lines that assert the dog’s form. At the same time, the flamboyancy of the background palette is offset by the muted colors and cheerless disposition of Zoe.
Inspired in part by the writings of feminist art theorist Whitney Chadwick, Matthews is currently working with a colleague on a project that she calls “The Whole Fandamily.” It will include paintings such as Zoe and Brad, and will embody what Chadwick describes as the act of “making images out of the experience of one’s life.”
The portrayal of Brad is not unlike that of Zoe. The figure’s pose is perfectly parallel to the picture plane; his stance is made rigid by the heavy black outline that delineates him; and his expression is stern, almost angry. He clasps his hands in front of him as if to stem the flow of blood that drips down the front of his bright blue slacks. Matthews deploys the image of dripping blood in a manner that recalls the celebrated 1967 painting by Faith Ringgold (with whom Matthews studied and later worked)- The Flag is Bleeding. In Ringgold’s picture, an African-American man is portrayed holding his hand to his heart as blood seeps through his finger and down the front of his clothing. Matthews has adopted a corresponding hieroglyph to signify human suffering; and once again, she employs vibrant colors and playful patterns to refute this very signification.
Like Ringgold, Matthews exploits paradox and contradiction-painting and quilting, joyous colors and somber themes, vernacular figural style and adroit quilting techniques-to create her “family album.” She derives her subject matter, to paraphrase her words, from the loving kinships that color her life. She paints about “family, friends, relationships, beauty, memories, love and pain” and about her life’s milestone moments-marriage, divorce, birth, and death. Her goal as an artist is twofold: to “understand and to elevate” her life experiences and those with whom she shared them by immortalizing them on canvas: and to render her images in such a way as to make the universal-part of a shared human experience. Matthews’ endeavors beyond the creation of her work are equally venerable. After graduating with honors from UCSD, Matthews became, for two years, president of the Women’s Caucus for Art in San Diego, and she continues to work with this group to provide exhibition opportunities for women. Matthews is also vice president and secretary of the Anyone Can Fly Foundation, which offers grants to artists, teachers, and scholars whose works advance public awareness of African-American artists. Written by Lisa Farrington for the Voices in Cloth Catalog

Brad

American Family #1: Brad
Quilted Painting
Acrylic on canvas
77 x 45 inches
© Grace Matthews 2002

American Family #2: Shelly
Quilted painting
acrylic on canvas
75 x 44.5 inches
© Grace Matthews 2002

Rudy
American Family #4: Rudy
67” x 59
Acrylic on canvas, hand quilted
© Grace Matthews 2003

American Family #6: Grace

72 “ x 47.5”

Acrylic on canvas, hand quilted

2004

Studies and studio photos of the work in progress.

Sue, 2009

American Family #7

75 x 44

acrylic on canvas

My sister Sue and I in my San Diego Studio and studies for her portrait.

Sue's painted quilt is finally finished! June 2009

This is a portrait of my sister, Sue who loves to garden. Sue came to San Diego to pose for this work.

Sketchbook Drawings

2006-10-29T12:01:00.001-08:00

Flickr

2006-10-29T12:00:00.001-08:00

www.flickr.com

Encaustic

2006-10-29T11:58:00.000-08:00

Butterfly & Skeleton, 2007

Cupcake, 2006

I Love Cupcakes, 2007

White circle, 2007 A collaborative piece with Judith Parenio

Imagine,2004

All We Are Saying, 2004

Give Peace a Chance, 2006

You are invited to "Our Ancestors" Reception at NAWA

2006-10-29T11:56:00.000-08:00

Faith Ringgold, Linda Freeman and Grace Matthews invite you to the reception on September 13 and again on September 17 from 5 until 7 pm at the NAWA gallery, 80 Fifth Ave., Suite 1405 at 13th Street near Union Square in New York City.

Where we will celebrate our ancestors and their stories in this exhibition of very new work (we're still painting and sewing). Please come and share some of your ancestors stories with us. If you can't be there send in your stories to GraceMatthews1@aol.com

by Linda Freeman

80 Fifth Ave., Suite 1405
New York, NY 10011
212-675-1616
http://www.nawanet.org/
National Association of Women Artists (NAWA) founded in 1889

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Grace Matthews
(858) 576-0476

Exhibition Debuts the Ancestors Project, New Works Focus on Peace and Family by Faith Ringgold, Linda Freeman and Grace Matthews

New York City, September 10 – 26, 2007 National Association of Women Artists (NAWA) hosts, The Ancestors Project. This collaborative project by Faith Ringgold, Linda Freeman and Grace Matthews is made up of three story-quilts and more than a dozen sculptures that share a story of hope and peace.

The story address a fictitious but universal crisis, the world’s children have adopted a sedentary lifestyle and have forgotten how to play. Something must be done or life as we know it will cease. Children have taken to their beds, “They need the help of our ancestors, they would have the children and all of us laughing in no time. They had love and hope. All we have is hatred violence and war.” The artists ancestors join together to bring stories of joy, love and hope to help the children. Meet the artists at the reception on September 13 from 5:30 pm until 7 pm.

The NAWA gallery is located at 80 Fifth Ave., Suite 1405 at 13th Street near Union Square. Receptions are September 13 and 17 from 5:30 pm until 7 pm is free and open to the public.

Grace's Ancestors Story

Day of the Dead Boxes

2006-10-29T11:55:00.000-08:00

These Day of the Dead boxes honor people that have passed away. The subjects of the boxes are people that I have been inspired by, loved or honored. Special moments in the lives of these people are depicted in each box. I remembered my father playing horse shoes, my grandma making pies and my mother arranging flowers from her garden in boxes #2 and 3. Please enjoy!

Day of the Dead Box # 3:
My Father the Horseshoe Player, 2000
4.50” x 5” x 2.50”
Mixed media

Day of the Dead Box #4:
Women's Caucus for Art (WCA) 2000
4” x 5.50” x 2.5”
Mixed Medium

Day of the Dead Box #5:
Dracula, October 2000
10” (18.5” open) x 5.25” x 11.5”
Wood, paper, fabric, ink and other media

Day of the Dead Box # 6 :
C’Love, 2001
10.5 x 7 x 2.25 (open)
(More about C'Love at the bottom of this post)

Box 7: Valentine for the USA, 2002
6.5” x 6.5” x 6.25”
Wood Box & Mixed Media

Day of the Dead Box #8: Italo Scanga, 2003

Day of the Dead Box # 9: Nina Simone

Day of the Dead Box 10:
Johnny Carson and Andres the Giant
6.25 x 10 x 4.5

Day of the Dead Box 11: A Plan for My Skull

Day of the Dead Box 12: Rosa Parks, 2008

Day of the Dead Box 13: Ray Charles, 2008

Day of the Dead Box 14:
Martin Lurher and Coretta Scott King, 2008

Day of the Dead Box #15:
Zora Neal Hurston, 2008

Day of the Dead Box #16:
James Brown, 2008

Day of the Dead Box #17:
Georgia O'Keefe, 2008
4 x 4 x 2

Red Thumbs, 2007
13 x 9 x 5

Pink Balls: Anna's Stinky Box, 2007
12 x 6 x 3

Flower Box
5 1/4 x 5 1/4 x 7 1/2 inches

Red Spring Box, 2008
12 x 5 1/2 x 5 1/2

Unwritten Future Box

Friut Box

___________________________________________________

Memorial Boxes for Pets

Pets are part of our families and they give so much love.

Here are a few photos of pet reliquaries.

Kitty Funerary Box for Banchee

Box for Susan's Pug Pug 2009

More on my friend C'Love

C’Love's Bio

There are issues in my life that seem easier to work through by incorporating them into art. The process of creating art is therapeutic and becomes the motivation to inspire other works. The contemporary issues that I address are a way of working through to see the bigger picture and it’s effects on society. Through this process alternatives are discovered that may lead to different way of thinking. The viewers of my work are given the opportunity to seek alternatives in their lives and hopefully through this medium changes can be made that benefit both the individual and their surrounding world.

C’Love is the past president of WCA,SD, and received her masters degree from the University of California, San Diego. She completed the Commission for Arts and Cultures CORO leadership training program and has worked with San Diego’s children restoring a neighborhoods beauty and respect.-C'Love

Eulogy for C'Love
I’m missing my daily phone calls. My “sista” was a devoted friend and such a diligent communicator. I keep excepting my phone to ring with C’Love’s upbeat voice at the other end. On the phone we covered topics about life; the good news or the bad news of the day, how our latest art projects were going, details about upcoming exhibitions and events, and we would tell each other jokes. I know that many of you have heard one of her jokes, right? She had a good sense of humor and loved a good joke. When she really liked one of my jokes she would she would repeat it back to me to make sure she had it right. When she did that I would laugh until I had tears in my eyes. I was her joke coach and it was fun.

The WCA/SD was often part of our daily conversations. C’Love was so dedicated to the group. I think her passion to keep the organization vital kept her vital. One of the many things she did for the group was to start the annual WCA retreat. That first retreat was high spirited. We made art, ate well and had heated discussions. She loved that time with other artists because she was a people person. We will miss her and her spaghetti at September’s retreat.

Some nights we talked about family. I’d listen to C’Love complain about Tony (sometimes she did say nice things about you Tony!) or she would listen to me grumble about Brad. She was a good friend and a good listener. She really cared about people.

She had a wonderful energy and even when her body and health were at some of their lowest points she would go out to eat or listen to music. She felt music had the power to heal. I think that is why her Blues Women hits such a powerful chord. She had strength and drive that was ever present and it was inspiring.

We talked about food with great passion. Cookies were one of her favorites. She has a funny cookie story that Ester can share with you if you ask her. To C’Love food is sacred and beautiful. You can see images of it in her art. She was a creative cook and would share her recipes in detail. She would get very excited when she had the energy to create a new dish. That dish was always much better when she could share it with her friends. Generosity was part of her nature.

We talked about the everyday things of life. Those are the things that mattered then and now. Like C’Love these are the things we should all remember to appreciate every day.

C’Love will be missed but her memory will remain in our hearts.

C’Love was born in New York City on Nov 9, 1946 died in San Diego, July 2001.- presented on 7/22/2001 at a service in her honor Grace Matthews

Prints

2006-10-21T14:55:00.000-07:00

Three Ravens, 2009

Lino Cut

made at EPI

Morning Glories, 2009

Silkscreen

8 x 10 inches

Anyone Can Fly Foundation print

made at EPI

An homage to Robert Blackburn

Red, 2008

4 x 4 inches

$100

Edition of 22 printed at EPI

Pug Shape Printmaking at EPI
Oct 27, 2006
Experimental Print Institute in Easton, PA
Curlee Holton
Jase Clark, a printmaker at EPI checks new silk screen of Rudy. If you want to know about the printshop click on the Link to EPI

These are the silkscreened prints that Jase printed on canvas. The squares will be cut up and constructed into wall hangings.

Nov 4, 2006 San Diego, CA
The first two Pug Shapes 36 x 12 have been constructed. Click to see a larger image.

The Anyone Can Fly Foundation, the publisher made this project possible.

Angels Whispering

Angels Whispering in the Night, 2005

by Faith Ringgold and Grace Matthews

litho, ed 50

15 x 25

Printed by Segura Publishing, AZ

Zoe, 2006

8 x 10

etching, ed of 25

Published by the Anyone Can Fly Foundation

Created the the Robert Blackburn Printshop with master printmaker Phil Sanders

Note: Zoe was sick with PDI and passed away during the making of this print. Now it's a memorial to her sweet face.

2006 Year of the Dog

Woodblock print

Faith Paints Wanted Print

Faith Paints Wanted, 2006, ed of 25 is an 8 x 10 etching published by the Anyone Can FLy Foundation and created at the Robert Blackburn Print shop with master printmaker Phil Sanders. The prints are $300 and will be available in Dec 2006.

Zoe, 2007 small lino cut

Obama

2006-10-21T13:23:00.000-07:00

Crazy for President ObamaObama doll or soft sculpture in process

Photo taken on 5/15/09

Barack Obama inauguration, 2009

acrylic on paper 11 x 14

I painted this before the inauguration. The process was like visualizing a dream.

I'm back in the studio after a long time away. I'm excited about the possibility of the positive changes that Barack Obama will bring to our country and so I was inspired to make a painting to commemorate his historic inauguration day. This painting is acrylic on paper and it will get a few changes. I'll add myself and a few friends to the crowd. We will all be there in spirit on Jan 20, 2009.

It is a day of History and Inspiration !

I made this digital painting while watching the inauguration.

7 x 12 Ceramic tile commemorating

President Obama's 2009 inauguration

In the collection of Faith Ringgold

Order an 8 x 10 photo print of this work for $20.

Includes shipping within the US.

The First Dance

Face Book Collaborative Mail Art Project

This is how "The First Dance" looked when I sent it to Stacie Birkey Greene.

Stacie added the word hope, a flower and the pale blue in the bottom quarter of the image on the left. Lisa Bebi added a red heart, yellow and random letters and numbers.

Priscilla Kennedy added the words at last and added red and blue to the presidential seal.

Now I wait for the last 2 artists to make their additions and then return it to me.

Collection

2006-10-21T13:21:00.000-07:00

Anyone Can Fly Foundation Auction
2007 Auction Sales

These three works plus a painted purse sold at the ACFF auction at ACA Gallery in NYC on 10/15/06.
It feels so good to be supported! Thank you!

2006/2007 Holiday Card design for ACFF

Commissions are Welcome!

2006-10-21T13:18:00.000-07:00

Here are images of commissioned projects that I have been involved with. Double click on any image to enlarge.
Please call to discuss your ideas for a commission.

Illustration made for the LJ Athenaeum secret auction

What Will You Do For Peace?
"Click here for more information in the 911 Peace Quilt"

Quilt Project for the 2007 Uris Center Dedication
at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Wedding Chuppa
Click here to see the story of the Chuppa's design and construction

Your Family photos,
Pet pix and Vacation Photos
can be
Sketched or Painted

and turned into
an original,
one of a kind,
hand made,
art work !

Family Scrolls
Have your favorite family photos painted
and added to a scroll to display in your home.

This is a commissioned portrait of a burro named Elvis with Granite mountain in the background. Elvis was painted in acrylic on wood panels. The panels were installed on a refrigerator in a custom home in Arizona. I'll post photos of the kitchen soon.

Slide Show

2006-10-21T13:12:00.000-07:00

www.flickr.com

Brad in Springfield, Mo

Here's my pride and joy catching
some rays with his white chin.

Night blooming Jasmine flowers
seems to be suspended in space and time.
in my back patio stuck on a web.

What Will You Do For Peace?

2006-10-09T20:09:00.000-07:00

© 2006 InterRelations Collaborative, Inc.
Faith Ringgold and I were commissioned by IRC to design and construct this "What Will you Do For Peace Quilt" inspired by the NYC youth that created the images published in a book by the same name.

Following the tragic events on September 11, 2001, the InterRelations Collaborative brought together young people from diverse communities across New York City to document their experiences on 9/11.

In their own words and images, they produced a remarkable book they called What Will You Do For Peace? Impact of 9/11 on New York City Youth calling for peace and understanding. Those same images were rpainted by the children and constructed into a quilt.

Faith Ringgold and I are grateful to be part of this project and were inspired to help the children and IRC to make a powerfly beautiful statement about peace with this quilt. For more information on this project go to “InterRelations Collaborative (IRC)”

The book is available on Amazon.

Comments:

Faith said...You have done a wonderful job and I am so proud of you. There will be many more commissions to come. This is great. Everyone will love it. Can't wait till the kids see it at their New York preview. Faith

Barbara F. said...Grace, you've got this blogger thing down pat. And the 'Peace Quilt' that you and Faith have created is magnificent. Thanks for sending it to me. Barbara.

Anonymous said...
Grace: As usual, both you and Faith have outdone yourself. I am so proud of you and being part of your family. I love you very much.

Grace Yun says: The quilt's absolutely exquisite!

Thank you for putting your talents and energy into making the world a better place in such a beautiful way! Your work and the way you do it are wonderfully inspiring. May the seeds you plant here nourish many generations to come.
Diane Gage

The Peace Quilt's itinerary:

ACA Galleries
Faith Ringgold Benefit Exhibit
Anyone Can Fly Foundation
New York, New York
October 15, 2006

New York City Art Teachers Association
Annual Conference
Fiorello LaGuardia High School
New York, New York
October 28, 2006

Association for Asian American Studies
National Conference
The Grand Hyatt
New York, New York
April 4-8, 2007

Teachers College
Columbia University
Department of Curriculum & Teaching
New York, New York
April 18, 2007

International Festival of Arts & Ideas
National Endowment for the Arts Literacy Initiative
"The Big Read"
New Haven, Connecticut
June 9-10, 2007

Marymount Manhattan College
Network for Peace through Dialogue Conference
New York, New York
June 15-16, 2007

Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut
September 2007

Queens College
The City University of New York
Queens, New York
October-November 2007

Wagner College
Staten Island, New York
November 2008

Go to “InterRelations Collaborative (IRC)”
to reserve the quilt for your venue.

Comments Please!

Contact info

2006-10-09T20:08:00.000-07:00

GraceMatthews1@aol.com
(858) 735-0687 cell

Studio address:
7959 Silverton Ave, #1006 San Diego, CA 92126
map to the studio
link to studio blog and studio events

An artists dinner at the studio.

A New York Love Story

2006-10-09T20:07:00.000-07:00

1. Lil thought the rat she saw was disgusting but he loved her.

2. One night Lil was locking up when she was attacked by a mugger. The rat came to her rescue.

3. Lil looked at the rat with new eyes and with love in her heart. She kissed him.

4. The kiss broke an evil curse and the rat turned into Rudy G. They lived happily ever after.

The end

© Grace Matthews 2000

Visual Art and the Politics of Race and Culture:

2006-10-09T20:03:00.000-07:00

Reserve for your Organization's Conference or Workshop

Mission: To introduce the Great Masters of African American Art to kids as well as adult audiences and to expand curriculum and history to include artists and the art of the African Diaspora.

Visual Art and the Politics of Race and Culture: has been created for educators to explore and inspire studio processes that enhance student learning, reflect important historical documentation, and cultivate dialogue about the contributions made to the visual arts by African American artists, both past and present. This cross curriculum art educational program for teachers, students and docents at colleges, art institutions and museums may be offered for continuing education credits dependent upon your institution.

VAPRC can be tailored to fit your venue.
Contact Trish Maunder for more details.
(609) 760-8223
tmaunder@mac.com

The goals of the workshop are:
1. To acknowledge the lack of information on and
exposure to African American art and artists at all levels of art education, K-12 and college.
2. To expand knowledge of African American visual artists and their work
3. To demonstrate that the work of African American artists can reveal an important part of the American story, the American experience.
4. To present tips, techniques, and resources for the effective integration of African-American art and artists at all levels of the curriculum.

Registration 8:30am
Keynote Address    9:00 - 11:00am
Workshops          11:15 - 1:00 pm
Lunch 1:00 - 2:15pm
Book signing during lunch
Review and Panel 2:15 - 4:00 pm

Keynote: Faith Ringgold:
More than 50 Years Making Art.
In this survey lecture Ms. Ringgold begins in the early 1960’s with political imagery and first hand accounts about the civil rights movement in the “American People Series.” Her inspiring, often humorous and always very human stories will illustrate her life’s work as an artist, activist, author, teacher and parent through the evolution of an awesome body of work that contains more than 100 paintings.

Workshops

A. Inspiration and Interpretation: Unique Insights into the Lives and Work of African American Master Artists- Linda Freeman
DVD/Video presentation and discussion
Workshop highlights the lives and creative legacy of groundbreaking African American visual artists through Linda’s award winning videos, study guides, and lesson plans. Featured artists include Faith Ringgold, Elizabeth Catlett, Jacob Lawrence, Betye and Alison Saar, Romare Bearden, and Emma Amos. Engage in lively discussions that interpret the methods and techniques of these Master artists.

B. Wish Wrap Dolls - Grace Matthews
Art making workshop
Meditate on a wish, create a doll and discuss the value of meditation, recycling and learn some basic concepts in creating a soft sculpture.People from around the world have dolls that depict images and ideals of their own culture. Wrap dolls were made during the time of slavery and come with a unique history.

C. A Patchwork of Experiences - The Story Quilts
of Faith Ringgold – Trish Maunder
Art making workshop
Learn about the inspirational life and work of Faith Ringgold, renowned African American artist, author and educator, best known for Tar Beach and her large, painted story quilts. Explore African American history, art and social commentary through Faith’s work, participate in a “Quilting Bee” to create a collaborative work of art, and take away a packet of great ideas for dynamic, expressive, and meaningful projects in the art classroom.

D. Art Historical Resources of the
Anyone Can Fly Foundation.org Website
Michele Wallace, Ph.D. and Barbara Wallace
Illustrated discusssion
The Anyone Can Fly Foundation is a non-profit foundation founded by Faith Ringgold in order to perpetuate and promote the study of the history of African American Art and African American Artists born before 1930. The website features a list of African American Art Masters who are under-recognized and under-studied in Traditional Art History. Essays and lesson plans on Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Aaron Douglas and Jacob Lawrence written by leading Historians of African American art. Also, the website features the stunning resources of the Lifetime Achievement Award, which has been given thus far to the Quilt Historian Cuesta Benberry, the very distinguished African American Art Historian and Artist David Driskell and the illustrious African American sculptor Elizabeth Catlett. In addition, the website features a series of programs designed to assist K through 12 teachers in their incorporation of Master African American artists into the curriculum.
This workshop will present and explain the audio-visual materials available through the website.

Panel Topic
Visual Art and the Politics of Race and Culture
What is the cultural language of art?
Can visual art exist without culture and how does it inform history?

Bios

Faith Ringgold, Internationally renowned artist, educator, and social activist began her artistic career more than 50 years ago as a painter. Best known for her painted story quilts she has exhibited in major museums worldwide. She is in the permanent collection of many museums including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The Museum of Modern Art. Her first book, Tar Beach, was a Caldecott Honor Book and winner of the Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration, among numerous other honors. Faith Ringgold has written and illustrated 14 children’s books; received more than 75 awards, fellowships, citations and honors, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Fellowship for painting, two National Endowment for the Arts Awards and 17 honorary doctorates, one of which is from her alma mater The City College of New York. www.faithringgold.com/

Michele Wallace Ph.D. NYU Cinema Studies, Professor of African American Literature and Visual Culture at the City College of New York and the CUNY Graduate Center (Department of English). Author of Black Macho and The Myth of Superwoman, Invisibility Blues: From Pop to Theory (Verso 1990), Black Popular Culture www.blackculturalstudies.org/wallace/wallace

Barbara Wallace, daughter of Faith Ringgold and Faith’s Assistant since 1991, is the Secretary to the Board of Trustees, Secretary to the Board of Advisers, and Coordinator of the Art With Kids Grant Selection Committee of The Anyone Can Fly Foundation. Barbara holds a B.A. in Linguistic Theory from City College of the City University of New York, a Graduate Diploma in Descriptive Linguistics from the University College London, University of London, and an M.A. and a M.Phil. from the Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York. She is retired from the New York City Department of Education after 17 years of teaching elementary subjects.
www.anyonecanflyfoundation.org

Grace Matthews San Diego artist honors the importance of family, community, peace, beauty and fun in her painted quilts and Day of the Dead boxes. Her visual content is grounded in the personal and emotional experiences of daily life. While studying at the University of California, San Diego Matthews began working for her mentor, Faith Ringgold. Matthews earned a BA from UCSD and currently holds the position of VP for The Anyone Can Fly Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on impacting history by including Masters of the African Diaspora into the art estastablishment canon.

Trish Maunder is a consultant in Art Education with a B.Ed. from Great Britain and an MA in Art Education from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Trish is the Creative Programs Director for the African-American Timeline of Art History with Faith Ringgold’s non-profit Anyone Can Fly Foundation. She creates teaching kits for use at elementary schools for the Foundation’s Art With Kids Grant, her most recent being From Harlem to the Classroom: The Art of African-American Masters for Elementary and Middle School Kids. Trish is also the content writer for FlatWorld Interactives Inc. www.flatworldinteractives.com” www.flatworldinteractives.com a software company that creates highly innovative and fully interactive software for the art education market. About Trish www.storiesthroughart.com.

Linda Freeman is the Creative Director of L&S Video, Inc. She has been creating, producing and distributing award-winning videos since 1987. L&S Video is best known for its “African-American Artists Series” of documentaries on the most important African-Americans in both art history and in the Contemporary Art scene. These are geared to students of the arts from sixth graders to adults. The project was developed to fill the gap created by severe budget cuts for arts education in public schools and to provide a source for multi-cultural information. The videos are suitable for use by the general teacher where no art educator is available and to enhance the curriculum in a regular arts program. When she’s not producing documentaries, filming, curating and lecturing, Linda Freeman can be found in her studio painting.
Linda Freeman www.landsvideo.com, www.landsvideo.com

The Voices in Cloth Exhibition (optional) is available for loan. This traveling exhibiton of painted quilts features cutting edge quiltmaking and narrative expression. To see the entire catalog of this show go to www.landsvideo.com. Call Linda Freeman to discuss the possibility of aquiring the exhibition for your venue. Linda Freeman (914) 238-9366

Contact Trish Maunder for more information about this prgoram.
www.storiesthroughart.com
tmaunder@mac.com
(609) 760-8223