A work of art is a refined and intensified form of experience. Working with African textiles from the National Museum of African Art Library allowed me to use finely hand-woven and hand printed fabrics of the past and turn them into new stories. All of my books contain stories or information that I believe are culturally and socially significant. Marrying the book form to textiles as page material, elegantly argues that fabric doesn't just have to be wearable, but that it too has stories to tell, and has a past worth sharing. The history and stories behind the vintage textiles are essential components of the handmade books. They add extra layers of meaning that can be quite personal: Using fabrics that are personal to the author, unique to a particular culture, and/or relatable to the reader again fuses the material form of the work to its meaning and adds complexity to the work.
During my year-long project working with African textiles from the National Museum of African Art, I had the opportunity to speak with scholars from the Congo, Benin, and Nigeria. It was one of the most amazing experiences as an artist to see how art historians view the artistic process and the final art piece.
Poem for Primary Lessons
New primary school curriculum
lots of biology lessons.
Last week we dissected spinal columns
24 true, 9 false vertebrae.
Cicadas, he said, so many of them come out
at the same time that all the birds eating
them get full and leave the rest alone.
"Predator satiation," my teacher explained.
A defense mechanism.
Doesn't work with all predators, I guess.
Today they opened my teacher's throat
for all to see. The whole school was
commanded to come out at the same time.
All the guns shooting us never stopped.
Play dead.
- Suzanne Coley
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