Penned Page

Debra, “Would you like these posters”? Yes! I would, Thank You. This is most likely not how our dialogue went over thirty years ago, when I was approached by a co-worker at Rizzoli Publications. But! I can tell you there was an overwhelming excitement at seeing the dark complexion faces upon hard constructed paper. The colors were vibrant and stood out on a backdrop quilt. I was familiar with quilts from aunts who saved worn clothing and sewed the swatches of fabric to form stories, memories and masterpiece quilts to showcase. Who, I was not familiar with was Ms. Faith Ringgold?

Ms. Ringgold has published best-selling books and continues to receive accolades for her artwork. I am ashamed. In my possession are several of her posters: “Tar Beach”, “The Purple Quilt”, and “Church Picnic Sunday Quilt”. My friend and mentor, Mr. Benjamin Holmes who was also a painter and artist taped heavier poster paper to the back of each of the three posters so that they could be taped to my apartment walls. We had priced framing-too expensive. So, Ben did the next best thing. He cut taped and fitted the pieces back together.

“Tar Beach”, the rooftop of any tenement building to escape the hustle and business of urban life: on the sidewalks, and congestion of honking cars on the streets. On top the tarred rooftop a young girl such as myself could feel closer to GOD and enjoy the rays of the sun beaming down on my melanated skin. The noise of the streets drowned by an occasional passing plane or the sweet music of the chirping pigeons-my interpretation.

Ms. Ringgold spoke of the George Washington Bridge and seeing the world from the rooftop of her tenement building as her parents played cards with their friends and her baby brother slept on a mattress. Ms. Ringgold’s dad said, “The George Washington Bridge was the longest and most beautiful bridge in the world and that it opened in 1931 on the day I was born”. Ms. Ringgold must have thought the same thoughts about the bridge as her dad because she pictured herself in her book “Tar Beach”, high above tarred rooftops and floating above old GWB, which has taken her to heights that I too! have dreamed.