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Chiquita Sheryl Whitfield
Owner, Quiltmaker
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Great Lakes African American Quilters Network
Chiquita’s creativity was developed through her mother by teaching her to recycle her hand-me-down clothing from her 3 older sisters (Charmaine, Calista, and Cynthia). She started hand sewing crafts as well (i.e., pillows, curtains, etc.). Chiquita learned how to sew clothes by the age of 12.
Chiquita’s interest in quilting was sparked after she joined the U. S. Army. She was stationed at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center in Aurora, CO and attended a Christmas Quilt Show. The beautiful quilts with all of the colorful and intricate patterns mesmerized her. By January 1980, she was taking patchwork-quilting lessons (hand-sewn) from the vendor who invited her to the show. Chiquita’s quilting evolved overtime; however, due to the demands of the military and life experiences (marriage and the birth of a son, Tony), she stopped quilting for many years.
In February 2010, Chiquita learned how to bead to make jewelry and started a craft business named, C & C Crafts. She taught her daughter (Cynthia) jewelry making and they were featured in The Detroit News, Friday, May 14, 2010.
Chiquita was inspired to return to quilting in 2016 after meeting Great Lakes African American Quilting Network (GLAAQN) members (Jean and Margie) at the African-American World Festival on the grounds of Charles H. Wright Museum of African America History. To her humble honor and delight, her quilts have been displayed in different exhibits around Michigan.
Besides sewing clothes and quilting, other artistic expressions Chiquita partake in are: crocheting, beading, hand embroidery, and macramé. She desires to leave a legacy of quilting to her family by the memories of her quilts and her family learning to quilt.
As a retired Registered Nurse, Chiquita has comforted countless patients for over 33 years. However, it has been quilting and crafting that has been her comfort and saving grace throughout all of these years. Chiquita stated, “Quilting speaks to my soul and gives me a sense of accomplishment after seeing the end product after many weeks or even months of quilting. My style of quilting is just like me…exquisitely eccentric!&rdq
When was the quiltmaker born?
06/5/1961
Ethnic background/tribal affiliation:
African American/Mandika Tribe
Educational background:
Masters of Science in Nursing degree, MSN
Religious affiliation:
Baptist
Occupation (if retired, former occupation):
Retired Nurse
Where was the quiltmaker born?
Detroit, Michigan (MI), United States
Where did the quiltmaker grow up?
Urban
Quiltmaker's maiden name:
Whitfield
Father's Name:
Howard Whitfield
Mother's Name:
Barbara Whitfield
How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?
From friend
When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?
Age 11-19
Why does/did the quiltmaker quilt:
Pleasure, Therapy
Name of quilting group(s):
Great Lakes African American Quilters Network (GLAAQN), Livonia Civic Park Senior Center, MI. Multiple group activities: charity quilts, veteran quilts, quilt shows, festival exhibits, Black history exhibits, etc.
Estimate the number of quilts made by this maker:
20-50 quilts
Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?
yes
What price was charged for the quilts and when were they sold?
$1,000
Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting?
yes
Available sources for quiltmaker:
The Detroit News
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Documentation Project; Guild
Great Lakes African American Quilters Network Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Michigan Quilt Project
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Documentation Project
Black Diaspora Quilt History Project -
Documentation Project
Michigan Quilt Project Michigan State University
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Exhibit
Afrofuturism & Quilts: Materializi...
Furman, Ph.D., Liv
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Fruit of a Woman'... Whitfield, Chiquita...
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Happy 80th Birthd... Whitfield, Chiquita...
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Stories of the Un... Whitfield, Chiquita...
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Wakanda Forever Whitfield, Chiquita...
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Creator
Wakanda Forever: ... Whitfield, Chiquita...
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