“Faith Ringgold was one of a very small group of Black women who helped galvanize the Black and Feminist Art Movements in New York in the 1970s. This body of work, including tankas and soft sculptures, led to Faith Ringgold’s painted story quilts.”
Due to the efforts of the Randolph-Macon College Art History program and the Black Studies program, Faith Ringgold visited the campus in spring 2012. I participated in her quilting workshop which was interesting and a very fun way to get to know her. Unfortunately at the time, I was a freshman and truly did not realize the power of the woman I met, but as I have matured I have come to respect and admire her immensely. She had a general love for meeting people and always wanted to know different perspectives.
Faith Ringgold, Ancestors Part II, 2017, Courtesy: Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, London, and ACA Galleries, New York © the artist; photograph: Benjamin Westoby
Being a teacher, she worked well with us and treated us in a manner in which we felt comfortable. I had the great pleasure of standing by her and shaking her hand, which was one of the greatest moments of my life. She gave a speech in which she talked about her life and achievements, while also explaining some of her more well-known artwork. Being an undergraduate Art History student, by this point I was on the edge of my seat ready to explode from excitement from what she was saying. These were the paintings I saw on the projector in class and now the actual artist is sitting here telling me stories of why she made her painting a certain way. I was in absolute heaven. When Faith discussed Picasso’s Studio I was so thrilled because that had been my favorite piece by her for some time. It is remarkable to have an experience in which you meet an artist because they are a part of the masterpiece too. If I could do it over, I would have done my homework and analyzed her artwork to the degree that I do today, but to defend myself I did not have the experience in Art History that I have today.
Faith Ringold – March 29, 2012, at Randolph-Macon College
Dr. Alphine Jefferson (Chair of the Black Studies Program) and Faith Ringgold
Maria Wornum Rippe and Peter Marquart Rippe
Congratulations to Faith Ringgold who has been awarded the Gold Medal for Painting by the American Academy of Arts and Letters!
American Academy of Arts and Letters. – [2023]
@ALL RIGHTS RESERVED – Iforcolor.org/Dale Shields – Kailee Elizabeth Cross
Kailee Elizabeth Cross is a student at Randolph-Macon College (The Black Studies Program)
COPYRIGHT © Faith Ringgold / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York, Courtesy ACA Galleries, New York
© 2023 Faith Ringgold.
