Strategic Philanthropy, or the Art of Saying No

I was asked to participate in writing a vision statement for an organization that is involved in strategic philanthropy.  I didn't know what strategic philanthropy was at the time, although I nodded wisely, said "mm-hmm" a lot, and otherwise kept my mouth shut.

I learned that strategic philanthropy is a management practice that aims to support an organization's social responsibilty, effectively focusing the organization's resources to maximize the effects of its giving program.

This is exactly what we artists should be doing individually!

Instead, this is what happens: Aunt Jenny works for a grassroots organization.  You admire the work of the organization.  Aunt Jenny asks if you could donate a piece of your art for their fundraiser.  You say yes.  You work and work and work.  Maybe the work sells, maybe it doesn't.  Then your college roommate tells you about another great cause and you agree to supply a piece for that group.  This repeats until you are exhausted and cranky and possibly broke from all your good intentions and you finally scream "Noooo!"

All this strategic philanthropy reading clarified a simple thought: step back and consider which causes you are truly passionate about.  Not the ones people you feel passionately about are involved in, but things that you feel strongly about.  Then look up some information about the groups involved in that issue and weed out the ones that don't appeal to you.  Contact some of the remaining organizations about a partnership. Perhaps you offer a piece for their headquarters, or a portion of proceeds from a specific event.  Maybe they aren't interested.  Maybe they have been waiting for someone like you all along.  Everybody wins.

Above all, stay focused.  You have your cause, you have your art, and you have 24 hours in your day.  Don't be swayed by the puppy-dog eyes for your friend's niece's elementary school.  Puppy-dog eyes, in my experience, cannot create a single extra second.

When Will They See?

I, Too, Sing America

by Langston Hughes

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen 

when company comes,

but I laugh,

and eat well,

and grow strong.

Tomorrow,

I'll sit at the table 

when company comes.

Nobody'll dare

Say to me,

"Eat in the kitchen."

Then.

Besides,

They'll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed.

I, too, am America.

Langston Hughes published this poem in 1926.  It is as poignant now as it was then.  With all of the fear and suspicion still directed at black men, I know that "tomorrow" has not yet come.

This poem provided the inspiration for my current work-in-progress, which will be included in an upcoming Fiber Artists for Hope exhibit.  My teenage son is smart, charming, talented, and handsome.  When he goes out, however, people see "just" another black kid.  When will they see how beautiful he is?

Fabrics for "When Will They See?"

Another Art Quilt Haiku

Thread falls on the floor.

Fabric scraps, some batting, too

Quilt is almost done.

An Art Quilter's Haiku for Poetry Month

A General Statement on My Workspace

Fabric, fabric, thread.

Wonder-under, thread, fabric.

Where are my scissors?

Honoring Gran, Part 2

After my initial enthusiasm at being asked to create something to honor my grandmother, reality set in.  How was I going to capture my Gran in fabric?  Not only that, but this wasn't just about her being my grandmother, but about her commitment to the Links.

What to do?

My mother, two aunts, and one of my cousins served as an informal focus group as I bounced ideas around.  At one point I even had an idea in a dream that was so bad I had to share it with my mother, just for laughs. I don't remember what it was now, but it was hilariously bad.

I did not want to do a portrait of my grandmother, but I did want to represent her.  We all agreed that the finished piece had to contain the color red, which was Gran's favorite.  The Links use the white rose as their flower, so there had to be at least one white rose.  And this is Texas we're talking about, so a yellow rose, too. And maybe one of Gran's favorite quotes.

I thought I had decided on a red vase with white roses and one yellow rose, with perhaps a quote incorporated in the quilting.  Everyone agreed that this seemed like a winner.

Honoring Gran, take 1

Then I started working on it.

As frequently happens when I am creating, the piece started dictating what it wanted.  I didn't feel the friendship coming from what was essentially a still life, so I thought I would add a woman.  One woman alone does not convey friendship, so it had to be two women.  I made sky for the background -- they would be at an outdoor table.  Since this was Gran, one of the women would be wearing red.  The vase would be white.  The result is at right.

The white rose against that pale sky was going to need some rethinking, but otherwise I was pretty pleased with it.  Unfortunately, that red was an issue.  The Links use the colors green and white.  Red is associated with a different group, one that my grandmother did not belong to.  I had not considered that as I merrily traipsed down the artistic path.  Since I could not simply swap red clothes for green clothes (try it, it doesn't work) I started over.

This is the finished piece.

"Love Never Ends" Jacqueline Bryant Campbell, 2012

I quilted the names of the other Fort Worth charter members into the hair of one woman, with Gran's parents, husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren quilted into the other woman's hair and the background.

Name quilted into background fabric

My Gran was a very loving woman.  Some of her favorite readings were about love, particularly The Prophet and 1 Corinthians 13. Excerpts from those works are stitched into the lighter green dress.

The title of the piece, "Love Never Ends," is taken from 1 Cor 13:8.  Gran loved her family and led by example.  Just as she surrounded us in her love, now we do the same for others.  Love never ends, indeed.

Love never ends, quilted into "Love Never Ends"
Jacqueline Bryant Campbell, 2012

Art Quilt Portfolio: The Natural World

What a beautiful surprise to find in the mail!  Art Quilt Portfolio: The Natural World, curated by Martha Sielman and available for purchase at SAQA's website, showcases quilts inspired by nature.  This is the first in a series of themed books.  Over 70 artists are featured in the book's galleries and 19 artists are profiled in this gorgeous volume.

The book is divided into sections by subject matter -- flowers, trees, and textures are just a few of the eight divisions.  There is a little something for everyone in this collection, from photo-realism to abstraction.  I love flowers, and there was plenty to see, but I discovered that coral, blackbirds, and moths also come to brilliant life in the hands of these artists.

The pictures are truly vibrant.  I love seeing close-ups, though, and would have liked to see a few detail shots. I realize, though, that since I was not the curator, the quilts I want to see details of may not have been the ones that were chosen, so maybe it is better having none at all.

While I enjoyed the galleries of work pertaining to the subject, I was most excited to see the profiles of the artists.  The artwork soars, for me, when I understand a little about the artist who created it.  Seeing a list of techniques without knowing why the artist used them leaves me cold.  Learning why Paula Chung chooses flowers and what they mean to her, or understanding the motivation of Annie Helmericks-Louder to create her richly colored quilts, or how Ginny Smith works, helps me to better appreciate the artwork itself.  The backgrounds of these artists are so different, but they all ultimately are compelled to create in cloth.

I can't wait to see what Martha Sielman has in store for the next volume of Art Quilt Portfolio.

Messy Worktable Collaboration Day

This really is how it looks when I'm working.  Oh, wait, there's that relatively clear space near the front that only has WonderUnder and a Post-it pad on it.  That's usually where my fabric support system laptop is.

This week's truth-telling is courtesy of Lynn Krawczyk, who is hosting Messy Worktable Collaboration Day.  Check out her space and a list of other artists who aren't afraid to show where the magic happens!