"African Accents: Modern Designs from Traditional Textiles" VIRTUAL EXHIBIT

VIRTUAL EXHIBIT

Also Visit Our Exhibit in Person Sept 10-26, 2021 Gallery Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-4pm; Sat & Sun 2-4pm Closed Holidays

Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners Through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund.

AFRICAN ACCENTS: Modern Designs from Traditional Textiles

by Lisa Shepard Stewart SEPTEMBER 10-26, 2021 ● Barron Arts Center -----------------------------------------------------------------

There's something about African Textiles…

You instantly feel their Energy... You imagine the textile artist at work, and wonder what inspired the blend of colors, patterns, textures and symbols in a particular cloth.

I am inspired to use these fabrics to design pieces that combine style and function, a duality commonly found throughout West African art and craft. I work primarily with bogolan (mudcloth), kuba cloth, kente, batik, and African prints. Recycled glass beads and handcast brass accents from Ghana often provide the finishing touches to my pieces.

Through this display of home accents, handbags, pillows and crafts,

I want viewers to come away with a new (or heightened) appreciation for the cultures behind these traditional textiles. And, just maybe, viewers will also leave with a desire to create their own beautiful pieces with these unique fabrics.

September is #AfricanFabricMonth

www.CulturedExpressions.com

ABOUT LISA SHEPARD STEWART Lisa Shepard Stewart is a writer and designer based in New Jersey, whose obsession with African textiles began in 1986 during a trip to Senegal, West Africa. Through her publications and her specialty company, Cultured Expressions, Lisa encourages other DIY enthusiasts to express themselves creatively, using culturally relevant techniques and materials.

She travels to Ghana annually to source artists, fabrics and materials. She also curates and hosts SewJourns, unique fabric and fiber art experiences in fun destinations. She opened CE's first studio location in downtown Rahway, NJ in December 2017, where her workshop offerings have expanded to include online classes for groups and individuals.

www.CulturedExpressions.com

ANKARA STRING QUILT

NFS African cotton prints, cotton upholstery fabric, cotton batting (2019) 32" x 32" A fun mix of vibrant Ankara / African prints, arranged to create a look of "Organized Chaos" Make your own version thru Cultured Expressions' virtual on-demand quilt class!

"WARRIORS & FRIENDS" SIGNTURE QUILT (2019) NFS Machine piecing, signed blocks. African cotton prints, cotton batik, photo transfer text, cotton batting 76" x 92" A fundraiser signature quilt project benefiting the Sickle Cell Assn of NJ features individual blocks, stitched and signed by Cultured Expressions customers, students and studio visitors.

"AS YOU SEE FIT, Part I" (2017)

NFS Machine appliqué. Woven cotton, Ghanaian batik, linen, upholstery, metallic cotton, cotton batting 13.5" " x 26" Madelyn, one of my early quilting students, passed away in the early 2000s. In 2017, her husband, Bill came across two of her unfinished wall hangings and he asked me to complete them as I saw fit. Soon after, he became ill and also passed, never seeing the end results. I hope they would be pleased.

"AS YOU SEE FIT, Part II" (2017) NFS Machine appliqué.

Woven cotton, Ghanaian batik, linen, upholstery, cotton batting 23" x 40" Madelyn, one of my early quilting students, passed away in the early 2000s. In 2017, her husband, Bill came across two of her unfinished wall hangings and he asked me to complete them as I saw fit.

Soon after, he became ill and also passed, never seeing the end results. I hope they would be pleased.

"FRIENDSHIP IS GOLDEN" (2006) 29" x 30" NFS Machine piecing. Ugandan wax batik panel (purchased), African cotton prints and batik squares, cotton batting The colors of the border, made of 2" African prints and batiks, are pulled from the center panel for a unique look that enlarges and enhances the rich, golden tones in the original piece.

DETAILS "FRIENDSHIP IS GOLDEN" (2006) 29" x 30" NFS Machine piecing. Ugandan wax batik panel (purchased), African cotton prints and batik squares, cotton batting The colors of the border, made of 2" African prints and batiks, are pulled from the center panel for a unique look that enlarges and enhances the rich, golden tones in the original piece.

KUBA CLOTH is made in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Central Africa, and is woven of raffia, or palm tree fibers. The term covers two types of fabric. One is an appliqué technique, the other features a hand-tufted surface that also goes by the name Kasai velvet.

A selection is available for purchase at the studio in Rahway.

"MIXED MEDIA III" (2017) 14" x 15" NFS Machine and hand stitched. Kuba raffia cloth, wax batiks, upholstery fabrics, African cotton prints,wood mask, perle cotton, twigs, tree branch The neutral tones and textured geometric designs of kuba raffia cloth provide a unique ground forvarious elements, including a hand carved mask from Ghana.

DETAIL

KORHOGO fabric is from Ivory Coast in West Africa. Similar to bogolan / mudcloth, it's handwoven in narrow strips. The strips are sewn together, then the piece is painted by hand, with large-scale animals, hunter and foliage motifs designed to protect the hunters that wear it, both spiritually, and as a camouflage when they wear it in the bush.

A selection is available for purchase at the studio in Rahway.

"KORHOGO HOUSE" (2015) NFS 19" x 26" Machine piecing. A mix of authentic handwoven/hand-dyed African textiles: bogolan (Mudcloth) from Mali, korhogo from Ivory Coast, kuba from Congo; hand-carved wood mask from Ghana.

"KORHOGO FOLDING SCREEN" (2005) 36" x 34" NFS Korhogo panel; fusible stabilizer; wood frames; hinges.

This shorter size makes the perfect decorative accent in front of a fireplace; double the height for a full–sized room screen.

"SEASCAPE" (2008) 21.5" x 17" NFS Raw-edge appliqué, machine quilting.

Jacquard batiks, cotton batting.

Abstract designs found in jacquard batiks from Ghana lend themselves to stylized landscape quiltthemes as they resemble water, land, sky and more.

"CITRON MOON" (2019) 12" x 13" $175

Layered raw-edge appliqué. Jacquard batiks, cotton batting.

Abstract designs found in jacquard batiks from Ghana lend themselves to stylized landscape quilt themes as they resemble water, land, sky and more.

"TUESDAY AFTERNOON" (2019) 26" x 30"

$325 Machine piecing Depictions of daily life are common in African art, including scenes of women preparing meals. Here, a wax batik panel celebrates everyday life, as two women pound yam for the evening meal. The panel (made in Burkina Faso and purchased in Ghana) is bordered by African Mosaic piecing of 2" squares, then framed with a wax batik that suggests mini full moons throughout, one of my favorite quilt motifs.

"THE INDIGO YEARS" (2020) 33" x 34" NFS

DETAIL

Machine piecing, hand quilting. Hand-dyed indigo pieces & backing, wax batik accents, cotton batting A compilation of individual indigo pieces I made while hosting 4 separate SewJourn groups to Santa Fe between 2016 and 2019, where we enjoyed 2-day workshops with renowned Nigerian Indigo master dyer, Gasali Adeyemo. The yellow-green-blue appliqués are not actually indigo, but wax batiks from Ghana, representing the seconds-long oxidation process of indigo dyeing.

"AFRIKALEIDOSCOPE" (2007) 52" x 52" $795

Machine piecing and quilting. Wax batik, adinkra cloth accents, cotton print, cotton batting Textured wax batiks from Ghana are arranged in half-square triangles to resemble the twists and turns of a kaleidoscope, with areas of light and shadow.

"HIGH CONTRAST" (2021) approx 54" x 48"" $595 Machine pieced, machine quilted. Bogolan (Mudcloth), korhogo, upholstery fabrics

Clean lines of black and cream combine in various pieces of bogolan from Mali (the geometric designs) and korhogo from the Ivory Coast (the warrior, animal and plant figures). Similar custom wall hangings can be commissioned.

"LIGHT AND SHADOW MASK" (2012) 18" x 25" $295 Machine and hand stitched. Cotton batiks, wood mask accent.

The dual tones of both the wood mask (Ghana) and the batik fat quarter are highlighted in tones of rust and brick.

"JIGSAW" (2007) 52" x 52" $395 Machine piecing. African cotton prints, solid black cotton, cotton batting. A mix of colors with geometric piecing

"ADINKRA WOOL APPLIQUE" (2016) 16" x 45" NFS

This piece was a featured project demonstrated by Lisa on the television show It's Sew Easy in 2016 (Episode #1103). Machine pieced and appliquéd.

Jacquard batik cotton from Ghana; wool; textured upholstery fabric. The three wool motifs are adinkra symbols, inspired by the textile art from Ghana.

From top to bottom: AKOBEN — The War Horn— symbol of vigilance & preparedness DWENNIMMEN — The Ram's Horns — symbolizing strength of Body, Mind and Spirit NKYINKYIN - Twistings — symbol of versatility, adapting to new roles

"PIECED COLUMNS" (2016) 58" x 80" NFS Ankara prints in warm, spicy tones are pieced then sliced into three columns and staggered. Machine quilted by Krishma Patel.

DETAILS

"PIECED COLUMNS" (2016) 58" x 80" NFS Ankara prints in warm, spicy tones are pieced then sliced into three columns and staggered. Machine quilted by Krishma Patel.

"RAW-EDGE REVELRY" (2016) 38" x 38" NFS Machine appliqué. Random strips of jacquard batiksstitched to various background fabrics

DETAIL "RAW-EDGE REVELRY" (2016) 38" x 38" NFS Machine appliqué. Random strips of jacquard batiks stitched to various background fabrics

ANKARA PRINTS Also known as African prints, wax prints or Dutch wax, these bold designs are enjoying a huge resurgence in all design categories, both in DIY and ready-made arenas.

Visit the studio in Rahway for yardage, quilters' pre-cuts and lots of inspiration!

"SLAVERY TOILE WALL ART" 2013. 16"x16" NFS

Machine applique. Screenprinted fabric; jacquard batik; cotton batting; brass adinkra accent; wood frame. "Slavery Toile" is a purchased custom fabric design by Kweli Kitwana The adinkra symbol Dwennimmenn symbolizes strength of body, mind and spirit, a fitting tribute to the lives of the enslaved.

DETAILS "SLAVERY TOILE WALL ART" 2013. 16"x16"

NFS Machine applique. Screenprinted fabric; jacquard batik; cotton batting; brass adinkra accent; wood frame. "Slavery Toile" is a purchased custom fabric design by Kweli Kitwana The adinkra symbol Dwennimmenn symbolizes strength of body, mind and spirit, a fitting tribute to the lives of the enslaved.

"BATIK UPRISING" 2017 30" x 30" NFS Machine pieced. Jacquard batiks, cotton batting, tree branch.

The traditional Puff or Biscuit quilt is Africanized with richly colored jacquard batiks and a simplified technique. Pattern available.

DETAIL

"BATIK UPRISING" 2017 30" x 30" NFS Machine pieced. Jacquard batiks, cotton batting, tree branch.

The traditional Puff or Biscuit quilt is Africanized with richly colored jacquard batiks and a simplified technique. Pattern available.

Samples from our virtual and in-person workshops, patterns, and/or kits available at the Rahway studio or online at www.CulturedExpressions.com

Samples from our virtual and in-person workshops, patterns, and/or kits available at the Rahway studio or online at www.CulturedExpressions.com

Visit “African Accents: Modern Designs from Traditional Textiles” in Person Sept 10-26, 2021 Gallery Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-4pm; Sat & Sun 2-4pm Closed Holidays

Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County

Commissioners Through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund.

More Events in the Textiles: Reimagining New Jersey Series