In 2008 I began a project with the Grand Bahama Heritage Museum to teach quilt making to a community in Freetown, GBI. We dyed and printed fabric, took photographs and memorabilia from their lives, and made memory quilts. I also photographed plants, animals and landscapes. Eventually I produced a large art quilt for the Museum, Journey to Freetown.
These are photos of the final Commissioned quilt:
This panel (to the right in installation) is of the young people of the Freetown community. It includes a rust dyed piece that was dyed using an antique iron .
This panel is of the elders of the community
Close up detail from panel
This is the Boatman panel of Journey to Freetown. I wanted to honor the people who go to sea each morning in these little shallow boats with poles to fish or ferry all day. Difficult, dangerous work. To not be too somber - I included the shot with a lovely little girl who attended the opening in Freeport GBI.
Details from the Boatman panel
I still think about the Bahama Project, the people of Freetown and how art can connect people and give them a common history.Next time I will show more about the project with the community.
The work (as always) is amazing! The photo that sticks in my head is of the boatman suspended from the porch at 411 Palm St. While not the Bahamas, it gave the feeling of being adrift and had the clear blue skies IRL.
ReplyDeleteThe installation is moving. Adding the girl to the photo is just right! It reminds me that even when the work is hard, there is a reason to continue that supersedes depression, procrastination and all of the other debilitating energy designed to prevent great things from happening.
Again, you capture more than just the image -- you get heart into each and every piece!