FAITH RINGGOLD: The Last Story Quilt. - Review - audio-visual review

Arts & Activities, Dec, 2000 by Barbara Herberholz

FAITH RINGGOLD: The Last Story Quilt. Video/28 min./S39.95 Level: All grades. L&S Video Inc., 45 Stornowaye, Chappaqua, NY 10514, (914) 238-9366.

In this inspiring video we listen to African-American artist Faith Ringgold as she tells of her childhood, her education, her inspirations and her dream of becoming an artist. During the video she works on one of her marvelous story quilts. Though a painter by profession, she moved away from traditional framed canvases to "tankas," paintings on quilted canvas with frames of quilted fabric.

She explains how she became involved in a series based on a theme, such as a fictional character who travels to the Louvre with a friend and her friend's three daughters. We also see a group of prominent African-American women standing in a field of sunflowers while van Gogh looks on. Ringgold emphasizes that her art reflects who she is, an African-American woman. This video bears watching several times to absorb the details of Ringgold's rich life.-B.H. For information about this program, circle No. 384 on the Reader Service Card.