Stephens’ roots forged her passion for quilting, her world travels influenced her style and continue to contribute to its evolution over time. An observation of Stephens’ work reveals fabric of many diverse patterns and colors. A fourteenmonth stay in West Africa further enhanced her use of color, fabric, and style, and she continues to travel often to Ghana, “the Fabric Capital of the World,” to collect new material for her work. Her trips to places such as New York City and Instanbul played a role in her creation of the background of such works as Lovers Lane, in which the buildings surrounding the avenue resemble a New York City Street, and the tower in the background echoes the form of an Istanbul minaret. The disparate elements create a fantastical and romantic cityscape for the lovers walking down the central lane.” In 2010, Stephens received an award by the Georgia House of Representatives, a resolution for her art portfolio entitled “For Crying Out Loud” a tribute to the Children of the Civil Rights Movement. Morris gives us a glimpse into the complex social nature of Phyllis Stephens. “As well as the telling of tales of love, life, travels, childhood, and family values, Stephens delves into darker themes from Black History in her work. One of the most powerful of Stephens’ projects, . . . is her limited-edition portfolio and quilt storybook “For Crying Out Loud,” . . . After reading an article in Essence magazine which discussed the fate of thirty-three young girls promoting civil rights who were arrested and imprisoned, Stephens created a compilation of quilts following their harrowing story. Stephens asserts that the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s was really a young peoples’ movement, in which the youth, often minors, fought for equality when their parents, threatened by the potential repercussions of job loss, harm, and punishment, stayed behind but encouraged their children nonetheless. Stephens created “For Crying Out Loud” as a means to shed light on the role that so many young adults and teens played the movement.” Excerpt Taken From – phyllisstephensart.com Her design process and techniques are cutting edge. Stephens’ work has been described as innovative and fresh. Her color selections and fabric choices are unmatched. She states, “My love affair with the art of quilt making is a seed planted inside me by every generation I have knowledge of. Once when I gave my grandmother a quilt she proudly proclaimed, I quilted with the same form and sense of her grandmother. The stories I tell in my quilts live deep inside of me. Some works are a collaboration of many stories brought together to make one piece. While others depict defining moments I have chosen to pay close attention to. Quilting is sometimes thought of as a hard, long, drawn-out process. Not for me. I am an heir to the culture and value of the African tradition of quilt making. The long process allows me time to travel to some of the sweetest places in my memories. Like the quilting parties I enjoyed as a little girl. It was there that sewing hands and tall txaales flowed one in the same. I enjoy every part, every process and the special privilege of creating a quilt”. Credits – phyllisstephensart.com and brookhavenpost. co/2017/07/07/phyllis-stephens-story-quilts-at-oglethorpe-universitymuseum-of-art-in-brookhaven/ justin Favela CENTRAL AMERICAN NOW OPEN MORE AT DESMOINESARTCENTER.ORG Justin Favela (American, born 1986) Detail from Central American, 2021 / Paper and glue / Courtesy of the artist 4700 GRAND AVENUE | DES MOINES
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