Sharing the Moment

Dimensions: 50 x 75 inches

Technique: Hand dye-painted in six values of blue with thickened fiber reactive dyes on cotton fabric, machine quilted with many different colors of thread

Material: 100% cotton fabric, polyester/wool batting, polyester threads

Artist Statement:

I have always thought that African-American women are the matriarchs of their families and communities. Everyone turns to them. They are also a powerful force in getting their communities to vote. I wanted to create a piece about this, but also to highlight the fact that African-American women did not receive the right to vote in all 50 states until 1965 when the Voting Rights Act was passed.

I met Phyllis at a rally in January 2020. It was at night, in the rain, and I was drawn to her. I explained that I wanted to create a piece and asked if she would be my model. Without hesitation she said “Yes!”. When I asked if she had a friend who would also model, she brought Loretta.

They both came to my studio and I photographed them. As I progressed on making the piece I sent them updated photos every day.

Phyllis told me that when she was 12 years old in 1962, she was one of 12 children asked to integrate into the Chapel Hill schools. She had the choice and she said yes. Ever since then, she said things like this have been happening to her, which is why she was enthusiastic to my request.

I later dreamed the name of the piece and actually got up and wrote it down. In the morning I had no recollection of the dream until I saw the paper with Sharing the Moment written on it.

This piece felt like a gift and a wonderful collaboration and I am so thankful I had the possibility to share this with them!

Even though Sharing the Moment was made in 2020 to celebrate the Centennial for the women's right to vote in America, it was actually only white women who could vote throughout the states in 1920. It wasn’t until the 1965 Voting Rights Act was passed that ALL women could vote. I feel this piece has even more significance nowadays as our rights are being eroded.