Faith Ringgold

Faith Ringgold…

is an artist that works with several different media. She is a painter, writer, mixed media sculptor and performance artist, and is best known for her narrative quilts. In the past, she has taught in the New York City Public school system and at the college level. In 1973, she quit teaching public school to devote herself to creating art full-time.

Reflection:

I greatly enjoyed watching the video about Faith Ringgold, and found it fascinating hearing her life story and how it inspired her art, as well as her determination to become an "artist."  While watching her speak, I kept thinking about a Ted Talk video I saw a while back about "grit" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H14bBuluwB8

In this video, Angela Lee Duckworth talks about the one characteristic of a successful student - grit.  It is the determination and perseverance that is cultivated in young people that make them want to do something and get it done.  She speaks of how IQ and talent are NOT the final determining factors of whether or not a student becomes successful at what they are learning.  Duckworth claims that grit is the key factor in a student overcoming any perceived roadblocks to their goals.  This passion and drive is something that we can instill in our students, and something I want to incorporate in my own teaching practice.  Faith Ringgold had grit, most likely brought about by her experiences with her parents and her culture, not necessarily in her schooling.  She had a passion not just for art and history, but for herself.  One of my favorite things she said was how she was able to use her art to show the world "who I am outside the limitations placed on me." As an African American woman living in the mid-20th century, she faced many cultural and social experiences that challenged her goals and passions as an artist.  For example, her art teacher that told her she couldn't be an artist because she couldn't draw recognizable mountains.  She was able to understand that this person, her teacher, was not someone who was seeing the full picture.  He could not understand that there is more than one story, more than one way to view something and more than one way to be an artist.  Just as her parents had different versions of their experiences and stories, Ringgold recognized that her story was unique, and worth telling.  As a teacher, I want to inspire my students to recognize that in themselves. Everyone has something important to say, and a different way to communicate it.  I want to be that person that helps find a way to help my students listen to their own voice and not be afraid to share it. 

Lesson Plan Inspired by Faith Ringgold:

A possible lesson idea would be to identify a students own cultural traditions and create a piece that addresses this using a personal narrative. For example, a student may celebrate holiday traditions each year with family, but feel that they do not belong or want to escape from the environment, or reimagine the tradition in a new way. Exploration with this idea would be a great way to give students an opportunity to critically examine their own traditions, feelings, identity and social norms.

Questions:

• What materials does Faith Ringgold use?

• Why do you think the artist chose these particular materials?

• How would you interpret the scenes she creates? Did your interpretation change after you read the accompanying text?

• Do you think the narratives can interpreted in more than one way?

• How do you feel the artists style of painting contributes to the feelings in the painting?  Is it complimentary or contrasting to the subject/theme?

• How does the artist’s use of color, pattern and composition contribute to the meaning of her artwork?