‘Meet The Artist' (No:57) | Micheal Cummings | Textile Artist

Summary

Michael Cummings, a quilt artist with 40 years of experience, showcases his quilts at the 2022 Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, England. He presents several pieces, including 'I've Known Rivers,' inspired by a Langston Hughes poem, and quilts reflecting African American history, such as tributes to James Baldwin and Josephine Baker. Cummings details his use of appliqué, various fabrics, beads, and symbols in his work. His quilts explore themes like cultural heritage, civil rights, and the Harlem Renaissance, blending personal, historical, and artistic narratives with vibrant, intricate designs.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Michael Cummings is a quilter from Birmingham, England, showcasing his work at the 2022 Festival of Quilts.
• 📜 His quilt 'I've Known Rivers' is inspired by a Langston Hughes poem, incorporating the poem's text into the quilt's border.
• 🧵 Cummings has been quilting for 40 years, using techniques like applique, zigzag stitching, textile paints, and fabric embellishments.
• ✊ His quilt 'James Baldwin: Born Into a Lie' reflects Baldwin's disillusionment with American ideals and highlights themes of racial inequality.
• 🌾 'Mecklen County, North Carolina' tells the story of sharecroppers in the South post-slavery, depicting the migration to the North.
• 🏡 Cummings created a quilt honoring the Gee's Bend quilters with his interpretation of their traditional 'Housetop' pattern.
• 🎶 'Henry Matisse Goes to the Cotton Club' imagines the artist visiting Harlem’s famous jazz club, blending jazz and art in quilt form.
• 🎷 'African Jazz Number Ten' is part of a series inspired by a South African photo, using African mask motifs and jazz themes.
• 💃 'Josephine Baker in Her Cabaret' honors the international star, with her iconic banana dance and embellished quilt details.
• 🕉️ 'Obama Goes to India' depicts the former president as the Hindu deity Shiva, symbolizing his role in balancing international powers.

Q & A

What is the significance of the title 'I've Known Rivers' for Michael Cummings' quilt?

The title 'I've Known Rivers' is taken from a Langston Hughes poem, and Michael Cummings aimed to personify the poem with a female figure on the quilt. The poem is also written around the border of the quilt.

What quilting technique does Michael Cummings primarily use in his work?

Michael Cummings primarily uses applique with a zigzag stitch. He incorporates various fabrics, paints, and embellishments such as beads, buttons, and lettering in his quilts.

What is the message behind the 'James Baldwin: Born into a Lie' quilt?

The quilt reflects James Baldwin’s realization that the ideals of freedom and equality in America, as stated in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, did not apply to him as a person of color. The red 'X' across Baldwin’s face symbolizes rejection and being marked as 'wrong' because of his race.

Why did Michael Cummings create the 'Mecklenburg County, North Carolina' quilt, and what does it represent?

Michael Cummings created the 'Mecklenburg County' quilt to depict the history of sharecroppers in North Carolina, a state that depended heavily on cotton production. It shows a family working in cotton fields and includes symbols like a train representing the migration of people from the South to cities like New York.

What inspired Michael Cummings' 'Gee's Bend' quilt, and how did he approach its creation?

Michael Cummings was inspired by the Gee's Bend quilters, known for their abstract patterns that resembled paintings. He based his quilt on the traditional 'housetop' pattern, which uses rectangular and square fabrics. Despite its simple appearance, Cummings found the pattern complex and challenging to replicate.

How does the quilt 'Henry Matisse Goes to the Cotton Club in Harlem' reflect both art and cultural history?

The quilt imagines the artist Henry Matisse attending the Cotton Club during the Harlem Renaissance. It depicts Matisse enjoying jazz performances while watching a female dancer. The quilt blends elements of jazz culture with Matisse’s style, using a variety of fabrics and embellishments.

What was the challenge Michael Cummings set for himself in creating the 'African Jazz' quilt series?

Cummings challenged himself to create a series of 12 quilts, one every 30 days in 1990. The composition of 'African Jazz Number Ten' was inspired by a South African photojournalist’s poster, and he incorporated African mask motifs and cubist elements into the design.

What story does the 'Josephine Baker in her Cabaret' quilt tell?

The quilt depicts Josephine Baker, an internationally famous performer known for her comedic and burlesque performances, especially her iconic 'banana dance.' Cummings used an actual satin dress as part of the quilt, incorporating embellishments to reflect Baker’s dynamic stage presence.

How does Cummings use symbolic elements in the 'Obama Goes to India' quilt?

In the quilt, Michael Cummings portrays Obama as Shiva, a deity symbolizing power and the balance of the universe. The quilt reflects Obama's diplomatic challenges and includes symbols representing different international powers. Cummings used embellishments and materials from India to enrich the composition.

What role do embellishments and fabrics play in Michael Cummings’ quilts?

Cummings uses a variety of embellishments, such as beads, buttons, and fabrics from different cultures to add texture and symbolism to his quilts. He often incorporates fabrics that reflect historical or cultural elements, like African textiles or vintage fabrics from the 1930s, to enhance the narrative and visual appeal of his quilts.