QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-6706

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Women of Color Quilters Network; Quilts and Human Rights; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

15.0095

If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:

2014:55.42

Quilt's title:

Anyone Can Fly

Who helped you fill out the form?

Aleia Brown

When was the form filled out?

2/28/2017

Quilt top made by:

Jones, Arlene Kweli

Quilted by:

Jones, Arlene Kweli

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Time period:

2000-2025

When was the quilt finished?

2011

Quilt is presently used as:

Artwork/wall hanging

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

African American

Does/did the quiltmaker belong to a group? Name of the group?

Women of Color Quilters Network

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

26"

How long is the quilt?

34.5"

What color is the quilt?

Beige or Tan; Black; Blue; Brown; Green; Purple; Yellow; White

What is inscribed on the quilt?

"Quilt Name: Anyone Can Fly Quilted By: Arlene Kweli Jones Size 26" x 34.5" Fabric Used: 100% commercial cotton Design Source: Adapted from City Skylines Construction: Applique, piecing, quilted on domestic sewing machine Date: September 2011 The inspiration for this quilt came from viewing a video Faith Ringgold made several years ago, and my own relationship with my mother. In the video Ms. Ringgold mentions her fondness of the George Washington Bridge and so I included The Bridge in my quilt. As a child, Ms. Ringgold had life threatening asthma attacks, but her mother told her "no one ever died from asthma." Although that statement was untrue, she believed what her mother told her. My mother repeated positive affirmations (as depicted on the cement sidewalk in my quilt) that helped to build my self-image, esteem and in essence, I believed I could fly, a recurring mantra in Ms. Ringgold's works. Anyone can break through all types of obstacles, rise, blossom and work to make their dreams come true- hence, ANYONE CAN FLY. From the song A Rose In Spanish Harlem: "It's growing in the street right up through the concrete, but soft and sweet and dreamin"" my roses are the flowers native to east and west Africa- Birds of Paradise" is typed on muslin and sewn onto the back near the bottom left side of the quilt.

Describe the quilt's layout:

Pictorial

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Original to maker

Person filling out this form is:

Quilt collector

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public- Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's name:

Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's city:

East Lansing

Quilt owner's county:

Ingham

Quilt owner's state:

Michigan (MI)

How was this quilt acquired?

Received as a gift

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

From the Collection of Carolyn Mazloomi

Who photographed this quilt?

Pearl Yee Wong

Copyright holder:

Michigan State University Museum, all rights reserved