b'Stories Worth aThousand StitchesBisa Butler transforms forgotten photos into beautiful quiltsBY ELLEN DONKERBisa Butler shows off her newest quilt, "Jumping the Broom," which will debut at Expo Chicago September 18 - 22. Butler says, "When African Americans were enslaved, plantation owners sometimes forbade marriage or didnt perform proper ceremonies for slaves. In some cases a broom was placed in front of a couple and they would jump over it. Jumping the broom was considered a marital ceremony."W hen Bisa ButleraHer final project was pivotal as well. But-postsaphotoler had planned to submit a painting that she ofherlatesthad made of her grandmother Violet. Unfor-projectonIn- tunately, Violet thought she had painted her stagram,sheto look too old so Butler scrapped it. Thats writes,Therewhen inspiration struck. Noticing anew her is zero paint ongrandmothers wedding picture displayed on this artwork. Thats because people assumedresser, she decided to represent the por-shes showing a painting. But a closer look re- trait on a quilt. veals that the rich colors and interesting pat- Usingthesewingskillsandcloththat terns that bring her subjects alive come fromViolet had passed on to her, as well as lots of materials such as cotton, silk and velvet. But- lacethey reminded her of the dresses her ler is a quilter and she uses this medium tograndmother would have worn to church in repre- her home town of New Orleansand oth-s e n tDoh at home. She chuckles at the memories ander pieces that spoke to her personality, she the stories ofsays, It was such a treat to get a new pack of Cray- pieced together the portrait. When her professor saw peoplethatola crayons, especially the kind with a sharpener inthe quilt, they both realized she had created some-time has for- the back.thing new and different. gotten. By the time Butler got to Columbia High School,Butler has been quilting ever since, turning to Fromtheshe knew she wanted to pursue a career in art andthat first experience for future efforts. For each se-time she waswent on to earn a degree in fine art at Howard Uni- ries,sheusesvintagephotosthatarefullfigures; alittlegirl,versity. Butler combined her love of art with educa- most are pre-1960. Many of her photos come from a Butlerhastion and taught in the Newark Public Schools, latergood friend who enjoys scouring estate sales. Butler lovedmak- returning to CHS for four years to teach Art 1, fibers,finds others from the Library of Congressimages ingart.Shedesign and drawing.that are in the public domain. She says, I always recalls spend- It wasnt until she pursued a master of fine artswant to make people look good, not forlorn or des-ingmostofat Montclair State University that Butler tried quilt- titute. Shell fix up their hair or put a pair of shoes hertimeating. She admits that she hadnt considered quiltingon someone who has none. preschoolinto be art because fibers were never part of her formalLastyear,Butlerleftherteachingpositionat I Am Not Your Negro is a new workthe art studioart training. One of her projects included makingCHS so she could pursue her art full time. And this inspired by the Black intellectuals such as W.E.B Dubois, James Baldwin, andandhavinga quilted oven mitt as a piece of art and she says,past June she was inducted into the Columbia High Ta-Nehisi Coates and those who trav- lotsofcol- That was the moment my life changed. I had lovedSchool Hall of Fame for her art. My business has eled outside of the United States to be able to have careers as writers, poets,oringbooksto sew and make clothesnow I could combine itexploded, she says, adding that her waiting list is philosophers, artists and thinkers. andPlay- with art. 200 people long. Each quilt takes two to four weeks 16/ matters magazine / school 2019'