Lift Every Voice – Elizabeth Catlett
Fourteen American and Canadian women, spanning the continent from Nova Scotia to Seattle and Vancouver collaborated on hooking the series of fifteen block prints that artist Elizabeth Catlett first produced in Mexico City in 1947. During the pandemic in 2021 and 2022, of the 14 artists, 6 of us are black, 2 of us are Canadian, and the remaining 8 are white and from the U.S. We found common bonds of purpose and passion during the period of time that we worked to complete our rugs
We met on zoom, chose the prints through lottery, discussed the artist, and reflected on how we might approach our hooked pieces so that they accurately reflected on what Ms. Catlett had conveyed over 70 years ago when she first produced this collection of social justice block prints. We recognized that Ms. Catlett’s’ images and message resonate as much now as they did then.
In this celebration of the work of “one of our own”, we hope as she wished, that our collected work “be of service” and “work to the end that love, peace, justice and equal opportunity prevail all over the world.” The title of the prints are written in a narrative, and are meant to be read aloud, as they are arranged in order for that purpose.
Each of the rugs are accompanied by the artist statement and a copy of Ms. Catlett’s original print.
Special thanks to the Smithsonian and Memphis Brooks Museums for allowing, with permission the copying of the prints, and to the Northern McGown Teachers Workshop and Melissa Pattacini of Honey Bee Hive Rug patterns for the generous contribution to mount and frame this exhibit.
A full article on this project is in the Jan/Feb issues of Rug Hooking magazine.
“I am the black woman. I have always worked hard in America, in the fields, in other folks’ homes. I have given the world my songs. In Sojourner Truth I fought for the rights of women as well as Blacks. In Harriet Tubman I helped hundreds to freedom. In Phyliss Wheatley I proved intellectual equality in the midst of slavery. I have studied with ever increasing numbers. My role has been important in the struggle to organize the unorganized. My reward has been bars between me and the rest of the land. I have special reservations, and a special fear for my loved ones. My right is a future of equality with other Americans.” Elizabeth Catlett
Curator: Maddy Fraioli
Maddy is the coordinator for the Lift Every Voice project. She is also a talented fiber artist and teacher, as well as a master potter and tile maker, weaver, and block-printer.
Website: RosehillDesign.com
Classes: To accompany this Special Exhibit, we are offering a Retreat and Gallery Talk, for more information see our Retreat and Workshop page.