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“All of my quills have a story. I decided when I stalled doing quilts 10 do storytelling quilts, taking inspiration from Africa as I always wanted to know itiniv. about the ‘Dark Continent’ (Africa),” says Rodney-Blackman who grew up on Slipc Pen Road in the Cross Roads area til Kingston and migrated to New York in 1940.The 83-year-old has had her paintings displayed in museums and churches in Greece. London and Jamaica, and her fashion designs have been {'canned in well known U.S. magazines such as Vogue, Mademoiselle, Glamour anti Woman's Wear Daily. Plus, she has received aboul 15 citations from churches, museums and political groups.“You want to sec my wall at home (in Florida) it’s filled with citations.”Rodney-Blackman will tomorrow present one of her quilts (two versions). ‘Unity of the Mind’, to the Garvey Multimedia Museum Liberty Hall, King Street, downtown. Kingston.QUILTING THE STORYThe story of how she became interested in quilting dales back to the late 1950s. Rodncy-IJIackman recalls getting a telephone call from the Federation South Co-operative group (U.S.), asking her to develop some basic fashion designs which llieycould incorporate into their quill making. Rodney-Blackman sayswhen she visited members of the group in the southern state of Alabama she was overwhelmed by their enthusiasm for quilting, which in turn increased her interest.“They (the women) expressed such great pride and fellowship of making quilts. They were willing lu showcase what they have done, and talked about how their grandparents were quillers.”She returned home to New York where she had a boutique of African fabrics with West Indian styles, with bright hopes of quilting. Shortly alter she met a black female quiltcr at a quilt expose in New York, and they became the founding members of the New York Chapter of the Woman of Colour of Quiltcrs.To make a dynamic quilt it’s like a dance. (You need to) come out with something like you arc commanding the audi-ence. 1 do enjoy and love it.“Making quilts is the last of my episode,” says the humble Rodncv-Blackman who studied .at iheTraphgan School of Fashion in New York now the New York School of Fashion. THE GARVEY CONNECTIONSewing comes naturally to Rodney-Blackman who grew up with a mother she describes as a great sewer. But the stories she tells through fabric come- fromtier childhood, told to her by her grandparents who spoke highlyi'-L:h■' • -■ 'Hazel Rodney-Blackman captures the Caribbean carnival with this quilt, ‘The Carnival’.Top left: This detail of a flamboyant quilt, ‘The Musician’ shows a liberated black woman playing an African instrumentBehold how gooii atid how pleasant . i is for 'brethren'lt;o dv'eH tdgdnct in unity. . I Imtf H the tliw! of sre'ai nni''PHOTOS BY MH JtUHt/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERThe original ‘Unity of the Mind1, above, features the faces of National Hero Marcus Garvey and deceased Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie. At left, is the woven version of the'original ‘Unity of the Mind’. Both quilts will be presented today to the Liberty Hail by Hazel Rodney-Blackman.'This quilt, 'The Black Star Liner’ that Hazel Rodney-Blackman calls her ‘little pet' depicts the ship that was bought by Marcus Garvey to support his back-to-Africa movement.of Africa, Marcus Garvey and his philosophies.Her grandfather, George Rodney, bought shares in the Black Star Liner (the shipping company founded by Garvey in 1919 lo help finance his back-to-Africa movement). Plus, she recalls that there was a nearby park, Oldo Louise, and a church about two doors fr[ni her home which Garvey and his club members would visit frequently.“As children it used to be fun to see Marcus Garvey coming by, riding a horse and wearing a hat with the plume.Today’s presentation of ‘Unity of the Mind’ (the original and a woven version) lo the museum is a contribution to her heritage and a tribute to her grandparents — the Rodneys as well as the Romans (her other setof grandparents). She notes that the- quills were on exhibition in St. Lucia when Professor Rex Nctllcford, former Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, saw them and suggested I hill they he displayed at Liberty Hall. She decided to donate them.KEEPING HISTORY ALIVEMade Iftrec years ago, ’Unity of the Mind’ quotes Psalm 133: Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.Professor Nctllcford says he had never met or known of Rodncy-Blackinan's work before St. Lucia but he was fascinated by tier quilts. The strong commitment and connection to Marcus Garvey, that is what interested me and that people like her arc slill around, says the professor.He adds that it’s an honour by ' Rodney-Blackman to be presenting the quilts to the hall, and as such he has to he there for the handing over.Donna McFarlane, director/ curator of Liberty Hall, the legacy of Marcus Garvey, says it's wonderful of Rodney-Blackman, an elder, who has bur memory of Garvey and has captured them on quilts to be presenting her work to the hall. Liberty Hall is about rekindling in the mind of Jamaica Marcus Garvey and his philosophies thus for someone has seen with her own two eyes (the life of Marcus Garvey) and has been so successful in her field it's an honour to have her; work at Liberty Hall, so we arc happy to receive the quills, says McFarlane.Pour of her other quilts arcdisplayed at Liberty Hall, including “The Black Slur Liner which, at 72 by 84 inches, is her version of a ship from Garvey’s Black Star Line. She says she spent more than four months liatidrtiaking the piece.The quilts, she reckons, are a way of keeping alive the stories of our past. .“A quiit has-been a vehicle for bonding the younger generation to the older generation. Firstly, it was to keep us warm but now it is a fine art. I remember while at the chapter, persons would bring Iheir grandmother’s quilt with much pride,Rodney-Blackman currently has two quilts on the table, one of which is entitled 'Why yuh a wheel and tun mi fa’. It depicts the Jamaican folk dance of the same title.
Newspaper Details
Kingston Gleaner
Kingston, Kingston, JM
Tue, Mar 01, 2005
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Nick N.
NA, 15 Jul 2023
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