The City of North Charlotte holds an annual African-American art exhibition that draws entries from all over the U.S. The theme of the 2023 exhibition was “Mermaids” which was in anticipation of Disney’s live action movie “The Little Mermaid” which starred an African-American actress (Halle Bailey). Although I did not learn about the exhibit in time to submit an entry, I was inspired to create several fantasy pieces like this one called “Mermaid’s Treasure ..read more

Coming of age in the 1960s, my musical tastes were heavily influenced by the Motown Sound. Girl groups ljke Martha & the Vandellas and the Supremes were influential both musically and culturally. They were known for their stylish hairdos and beautiful gowns, looks that were emulated by African-American women across the country. The Supremes had 10 straight #1 hits in the 1960s and led Motown groups in having crossover success that was unprecedented for African-American artists. This piece is the first of a series inspired by this legacy ..read more

My “Lap of Love” art quilt was selected for the Gallery at Morningstar’s summer exhibition. The theme was “Ripple of Love” and this piece is intended to represent the unconditional love of a grandmother for her grandchild. The child radiates the confidence that comes from knowing that she is loved and cared for. Research has shown that unconditional love helps children develop a positive sense of self-worth, provides a safe and secure environment for exploration and learning, helps them develop positive relationships with others, and provides a buffer against the negative effects of stress and ..read more

My “Wash Day” art quilt was juried into the Art League of Hilton Head’s prestigious 2023 Biennale art exhibition. There were over 600 entries, from which 100 artists from 25 states were accepted. The exhibit ran from May 20-June 17 at the Art League Gallery located inside the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. Bob and I traveled to Hilton Head for the Opening Reception on May 19th which was very well attended ..read more

Last Fall I was asked to do a presentation about my work to the Charlotte Modern Quilt Guild. One of the attendees was a librarian who remembered my artwork when she was tasked with finding a way to brighten the walls of a new temporary branch that opened in a high traffic location in Uptown Charlotte. She reached out to me in January 2022 to see if I would be interested in showing my artwork in their library space. This was a great opportunity to introduce my work to a new audience and I quickly agreed. Our conversation led to 10 of my images being displayed in the branch for the entire month ..read more

I am currently working on a series of art quilts based on old photographs. I got the idea from a wonderful collection of formal portraits from the late 1800s through the 1930s that I found in my late father’s personal effects . Along with the work of Harlem Renaissance photographer James Van Der Zee, these photos provide a glimpse of African-American life that is rarely seen in history books. It has been a lot of fun trying to capture the mood of these striking black and white images using colorful modern fabrics. My goal is to complete a group of images that can be exhibited along with the ph ..read more

This year I am resolving to work on larger pieces with more complex backgrounds. This presents a challenge in terms of layering the elements in each composition without adding a lot of bulk. I am experimenting with new types of fusible and batting, as well as using some machine stitching in my backgrounds. There is a lot of trial and error involved, but I hope to find a winning combination of materials. I’m thinking that I need to create a journal that summarizes how each piece is constructed so I’ll know how to replicate the effects. This is an example of a background that I’ve created for a ..read more

I recently learned a new appliqué technique using fusible adhesives that makes in much easier to assemble my layered quilt tops. It literally saves days on each piece! I used this technique for the first time on this piece which I call “Here Comes the Sun”. I also used a software program that turns photos into art to manipulate the original image that inspired the quilt. This helped me select a color palatte that I thought would be more striking. I love playing around with new tools ..read more

Some young friends of mine recently celebrated the birth of their first child, a daughter. Throughout the pregnancy, the Mom was eloquent in sharing her hopes and dreams for her baby in a time of great upheaval. Social unrest and the ongoing pandemic were a backdrop that caused her to sometimes question whether it was wise to bring a child into the world at this time. Ultimately, the couple chose to believe that they could offer their baby the love and security she would need to thrive. I am so looking forward to watching them navigate the challenges of parenting in the years ahead ..read more

Every so often, an image springs fully formed into my head and comes together very quickly. That is what I experienced with this piece which I call “Behold the Star.” When I saw my niece Shelby sing a solo on this song during the 95th Spelman-Morehouse Christmas Carol Concert, I knew immediately that I wanted to capture that moment in an art quilt. I sketched the idea the next day, searched through my fabric stash and got to work. Three days later, I had the quilt top pieced together and was preparing it for quilting. As those familiar with my work know, I typically hand quilt my pieces using ..read more