Faith Ringgold

Social and Artist Context

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On October 8, 1930, Faith Ringgold came into this world in Harlem, a neighborhood of New York City. With two older siblings, she was the youngest child of Willi Posey Jones, who worked as a seamstress and fashion designer, and Andrew Louis Jones, Sr., who drove a truck for the city. Faith's mother was the one who taught her how to stitch, a talent inherited from her great-great-grandmother who used to make quilt covers for the plantation's family while enslaved. Faith developed a fondness for creating artwork throughout her childhood, which she spent indoors because of her asthma.(ProQuest | Better Research, Better Learning, Better Insights.)

Faith Ringgold's life and works were shaped by a variety of social and cultural events, including:

The Civil Rights Movement: Ringgold grew up in a time when racism and discrimination were prevalent in American society. She was deeply influenced by the Civil Rights Movement and its call for equality and justice for all people.

The Feminist Movement: Ringgold was also influenced by the Feminist Movement, which called for equal rights and opportunities for women. Her art often explores themes related to gender and identity.

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The Black Arts Movement: Ringgold was part of the Black Arts Movement, a cultural revolution that emerged in the 1960s and 70s. This movement celebrated African American culture and sought to promote social and political change through the arts.."Ringgold found inspiration in the era of Black Power, a nascent second-wave feminism, and seemingly disparate cultural expressions, from West African carvings to Tibetan Buddhist textiles" (Bourland 2021)

The Harlem Renaissance: Ringgold was also influenced by the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement that flourished in the 1920s and 30s. This movement celebrated African American culture and contributed to the development of modernism in art and literature

Representative

work

American People Series #11:

Three Men on a Fence

American People Series #11: Three Men on a Fence is a memorizing painting that Faith Ringgold made in 1964. It is part of her 20 artworks that she made into a series titled American People Series which explores the social and political climate in the United States during the Civil Rights Movement. Ringgold presents a powerful composition, depicting three men, one man resembles an African American man while the two other figures resemble Caucasian men. They all appear to be sitting on a fence that serves as a symbolic representation of racial division. The men are portrayed as angular and rectangular forms, while the fence consists of vertical and horizontal lines that form circular shapes as well. The colors used consist of bright blues, blacks, whites, and reds. These colors bring a vibrant and bold composition to the overall painting. Ringgold uses value to create contrast and depth within the painting, she uses shadows and highlights, to define the forms and give them a three-dimensional quality.

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Groovin’ High

Faith Ringgold’s silkscreen titled Groovin’ High was made in 1986, she was inspired by memories of Sunday afternoon dances at the Savoy and her connection to her native Harlem neighborhood.(“Faith Ringgold | Mattatuck Museum”) One of Ringgold's artistic styles is to incorporate her own life experiences through her artwork. Ringgold captures the spirit and energy of this musical genre while also addressing broader themes of cultural identity and community. Ringgold incorporates various types of lines, including curving lines, and intersecting lines. The lines create movement, giving a sense of jazz music and dance. Jazz has been associated with freedom, creativity and has played a crucial role in shaping African American culture and identity. The figures in the artwork are depicted using organic shapes and forms resembling men, women, and children, the figures do overlap with one another in some parts of the piece. The placement of the dancers within the canvas is carefully arranged to create a visually engaging scene. Ringgold utilizes both positive and negative space effectively, the background areas are filled with patterns and vibrant colors giving a sense of energy and vibrancy.

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Maya’s Quilt of Life

Maya's Quilt Of LIfe is a compelling work of art made in 1989. Ringgolds choice of colors in the quilt are bold and vibrant, creating a strikingly visual impact. The use of primary colors, such as red, blue, and yellow, in combination with earthy tones, creates an energizing color harmony in the artwork. Each patch on the quilt features intricate line work, which adds a degree of intricacy to the overall design. The fine lines also draw attention to the patterns of each patch, adding depth and detail to the artwork. Maya's Quilt of Life creates an illusion of three-dimensional form and texture. Each patch appears to have a unique texture, and the combination of different materials, helps create a sense of visual depth. The use of negative space in the quilt is equally crucial to the overall composition. The empty spaces between patches create a sense of balance and harmony, while also drawing attention to the patterns and colors of each patch. The use of various materials, such as fabric, and paint, creates a unique texture that adds a tactile quality to the composition. Additionally, the texture of each patch adds depth and dimension to the artwork.

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Impact and impressions

In a Museum of Modern Arts magazine article, it goes into detail about how Faith Ringgold has been a strong activist throughout her career, using her art to address and challenge social and political issues. Ringgold has been an advocate for women's rights and gender equality, through her artwork she explores issues related to women's experiences, empowerment, and the challenges they face in society. The Museum of Modern Arts has featured Faith Ringgold’s work, including exhibitions and acquisitions of her art. The Museum of Modern Arts has made efforts to support and highlight the contributions of African Americans and women in many ways like organizing exhibitions specifically focused on African American artists, they also collaborate with other institutions, organizations, and artists to further support African American artists and women artists. Faith Ringgold made this all possible through her perseverance and resilience, she set out to accomplish a mission of giving a voice to women and African Americans everywhere so that they too can achieve their goals and passions and have importance within our society.

Joyce Millman is a writer and journalist known for her work in pop culture analysis, her writing often combines humor, and cultural analysis while possessing a deep understanding of world views, she wrote a scholarly review touching on the significant importance of how Faith Ringgold wanted her contribution to the Civil Rights Movement to be a ‘‘visual depiction of the disparity between blacks and whites from a uniquely female point of view.” (Millman p.388) Millman goes into analyzing some of Ringgold’s work stating “Ringgold's influence reaches the real world of social justice and art. She has created a voice for African Americans, as well as a voice for women in art” (p.391-392) Ringgold is recognized within the art community for using various forms of mediums like painting and making story quilts to express her thoughts and beliefs, she captivates her audience by bringing detail and passion to her works.

Rudine Bishop who is an influential scholar and educator known for her work in the field of children’s literature has had a significant impact on educators, librarians, and scholars, shaping the understanding and promotion of diverse and inclusive literature for children and young adults. Bishop touches on how Faith Ringgold has made important contributions to children's literature and have advocated for representation and inclusivity for African Americans. Bishop argues that books can serve as mirrors that reflect a child's own experiences and culture, as well as windows that offer a view into the experiences and cultures of others. She touches on observations she has made on the progression of African American literature one observation Bishops states is, “Many African American writers have been concentrating on history, reclaiming the past. (p.213) You can see this observation in Faith Ringgold's children's illustrations that oftentimes address topics such as slavery, the civil rights movement, and African American identity.

A Journey Through Art and Inspiration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Comf9SetjRA

Works Cited

-American People Series #11: Three Men on a Fence, 1964. Faith Ringgold, www.faithringgold.com/portfolio/american-people-series-11-three-men-on-a-fence.

-Bishop, Rudine S. "Surveying the Hopescape." Language Arts, vol. 86, no. 3, 2009, pp. 212-217. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/surveying-hopescape/docview/196934989/se-2.

-Bourland, Ian. "Ian Bourland on Faith Ringgold." Artforum International, vol. 60, no. 4, 12, 2021. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/magazines/ian-bourland-on-faith-ringgold/docview/2605261686/se-2

-Elligott ,Michelle From the Archives: Faith Ringgold, the Art Workers Coalition, and the Fight for Inclusion at the Museum of Modern Art.” MoMA, 29 July 2016, www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/2016/07/29/from-the-archives-faith-ringgold-the-art-workers-coalition-and-the-fight-for-inclusion-at-the-museum-of-modern-art.

-“Faith Ringgold.” American Academy of Arts & Sciences, 27 July 2023, www.amacad.org/person/faith-ringgold.

-Faith Ringgold: Artist & Activist ,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Comf9SetjRA

-“Faith Ringgold | Mattatuck Museum.” Mattatuck Museum, 24 Oct. 2019, www.mattmuseum.org/mattatuck_carousel/faith-ringgold.

- Faith Ringgold: No 'Knock Down, Drag Out Black Woman Story'. NPR, 2013. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/other-sources/faith-ringgold-no-knock-down-drag-out-black-woman/docview/1426122884/se-2.

-“Maya’s Quilt of Life, 1989.” Faith Ringgold, www.faithringgold.com/portfolio/mayas-quilt-of-life.

-Schjeldahl, Peter. “Making Way for Faith Ringgold.” The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2022, www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/03/07/making-way-for-faith-ringgold-new-museum.

-"The Last Word: Faith Ringgold." New Moon Girls, Jan, 2013, pp. 33. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/magazines/last-word-faith-ringgold/docview/2264343962/se-2.