TEACHER RESOURCE PA C K E T
Intersecting Cultures
• What is going on in this image? • Describe the figures in the image in as much detail as possible, paying attention to clothing and body language. What are they doing? How would you describe the relationships between them? • What is the most unexpected thing you notice? • What do you notice about the composition in this work? Why do some of the edges seem to be cut-off? • What might the incomplete image we see be a part of? Sheila Bridges, a successful interior designer based in Harlem, recalls her motive for creating this work: “I have always been intrigued and inspired by the historical narrative of the decorative arts, especially the traditional French toile de Jouy fabric with pastoral motifs from the 1700s. I’m entertained by the stories these patterns tell and the questions they sometimes raise. But after searching for many years for the perfect toile for my home, I decided that it quite simply didn’t exist and I created Harlem Toile de Jouy.”14 • In her design, Bridges mixes references to different places and times. What are they? • Discuss the tension that arises from this juxtaposition of different historical/geographical elements. Sheila Bridges created wallpaper, fabric, and other decorative objects with this pattern. She says it allowed her to “thread my own satirical story, lampooning some of the stereotypes deeply woven into the African American experience.”15
Activity Split in groups of 3-4 students and come up with a series of designs that might adorn a Toile capturing typical instances of your own lives. Create a sample fabric swatch on paper and present it to the rest of the class. Go around the room until all groups have presented.
• Where in the design are these stereotypes most apparent? • Can you imagine having a wall in your home adorned with Harlem Toile wallpaper? Why or why not?
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