You’ve pointed out the unwavering, direct gaze in the portrait subjects you choose. Many people did not realize until Beyoncé’s Homecoming album came out how rich and unique Black campus life is. I want the wider world to understand why HBCUs graduate more Black doctors than any other universities in this country, why we call Howard the “Mecca,” and even what is a Black homecoming. I am putting together an exhibition of quilts based on vintage photographs from Howard. For instance, I graduated from Howard University, an HBCU in Washington, DC, that also counts Kamala Harris and Chadwick Boseman as graduates.
Recently I began organizing images with a specific theme because there was a story I wanted to tell. Many times it is a direct gaze, an attitude, or a feeling that emanates from the photograph. I store hundreds of photos on my computer of people who fascinate me. What are the untold stories you haven’t quilted yet but want to?īisa Butler: Most of my artworks start with a compelling image. Here is Freidenrich’s interview with Butler for that story, lightly edited.Įmily Freidenrich: Where do your pieces start from? You’ve mentioned this idea of “collective memory” in the Black community. She’s also one of three artists featured in Emily Freidenrich’s article "Portraits in Craft" in that issue. Photo by Nonexitfiction, courtesy of the Claire Oliver Gallery.īisa Butler’s powerful quilt called Broom Jumpers (2019) appears on the cover of the Fall 2021 issue of American Craft.
American Craft Council American Craft Council Main navigationīisa Butler with Asantewa (2020), cotton, silk, wool, and velvet quilted and appliqué, 52 x 88 x 2 in.
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