Alice Walker’s “In Search of Our Mother’s Gardens” and the Quilts created by the likes of Faith Ringgold and Bisa Butler all share a common message and theme. Their work resembles strength and pride for African American Women using artwork and symbolism to tell a story using pictures. When I looked at the Quilts and watched the videos, I noticed that the colors were extremely bright and vibrant. It popped out and caught my attention quickly. I like this about the artwork because not only is it extremely noticeable, but it also helps express the personality of the person as well as the type of style they like to make their quilts. In Walker’s text, she expresses how poetry is also a good way to get your point across because you can use metaphors and similes to express how you feel.
I also noticed reading the text that Walker’s mother was a huge influence in shaping her into the strong woman she is today. The quote “During the “working” day, she labored beside-not behind-my father in the fields. Her day began before sunup and did not end until late at night. There was never a moment for her to sit down, undisturbed, to unravel her own private thoughts; never a time free from interruption by work or the noisy inquiries of her many children.” Page 6. This quote is significant to me because seeing her mother not only work to make money but also work in the house to cook and clean shows that she grew up with a hard-working and loving mother who she could look up to for guidance and support. Walker states that while she was growing up and exploring the country, she was saddened to see that the African American women in the country were so beautiful yet so underappreciated by society. I think that was the inspiration to start using poetry and artistic methods such as paintings and quilts to inspire any African American woman who sees it to realize that they are strong, beautiful, and independent. Something else I’ve noticed reading the text and watching the videos is that colors are very important in showing how vibrant or bright something or someone is.
I mentioned before that the quilts and paintings had a lot of bright colors but it’s interesting to see how Alice Walker incorporated her mother’s garden into the text as well to show how they inspired her. It states “And I remember people coming to my mother’s yard to be given cuttings from her flowers; I hear again the praise showered on her because whatever rocky soil she landed on, she turned into a garden. A garden so brilliant with colors, so original in its design, so magnificent with life and creativity that people drive by our house in perfect strangers and imperfect strangers and ask to stand or walk among my mother’s art.” Page 8. Her growing up with all these beautiful flowers and a wonderful mother must have been the inspiration for her to start using art as a way to express stories about people.
The artwork I see from the quilts matches the description of her mother’s garden. Faith Ringgold’s “Woman on a Bridge” was a symbolic piece of work that was meant to show people that you should go and strive above and beyond. The girl is above the bridge floating and I think it is meant to show that oppression and unfair laws make it hard for African American women to succeed but you can use outlets like making quilts to tell your story. The “Street Story Quilt” was also constructed by Faith Ringgold, and I think it does a very nice job of depicting what it was like to live in the area in 1985. I noticed in Faith Ringgold’s work that the colors aren’t dark, but the setting of her work is during the nighttime so they aren’t as vibrant as in Bisa Butler’s work. Bisa Butler’s quilts to me are a lot more eye-catching and have more of a wow factor to them. This is because she uses way brighter colors to make her work and I think this is because she wants to show off the person, she is quilting to make them feel seen or heard.
Questions
How does Alice Walker use art and poetry to help express how she feels to other people? Why do you think her mother’s garden was such a big influence in her being able to express herself?
How can we use art and color to see what type of mood or setting the person is trying to instill for the viewer. Does the color or background help create a story if there are no words on the canvas?
Work Cited
“WALKER_IN Search of.Pdf.” Google Drive, Google, drive.google.com/file/d/1ZZDHvHq-56H2zAbL4b7qsRoXPXRnEnWW/view. Accessed 15 Apr. 2024.
American, Faith Ringgold. “Faith Ringgold: Street Story Quilt.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1 Jan. 1985, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/485416.
“Faith Ringgold.” The Guggenheim Museums and Foundation, www.guggenheim.org/artwork/artist/faith-ringgold. Accessed 15 Apr. 2024.
“Bisa Butler: Portraits: Exhibition Stories.” The Art Institute of Chicago, www.artic.edu/videos/44/bisa-butler-portraits-exhibition-stories. Accessed 15 Apr. 2024.
Great analysis Anthony! I think it is great that you drew attention to Alice Walker’s mother and the example she was to Walker and how she influenced her work. I think this is an integral point in Walker’s paper, “In Search of Our Mother’s Gardens.” Walker emphasizes how the art of black women inherently expresses the generational oppression that black women have faced. I noticed this with Bisa Butler’s work as well. She specifically works to showcase and highlight the forgotten people in her ancestry through beautiful, vibrant colors, as you mentioned, displaying a narrative other than one of the oppression they faced. I found both the reading by Alice Walker and Bisa Butler’s quilts extremely moving and fascinating, and what specifically stood out to me was the way they illustrate generational oppression through the type of works they produce, and through Walker’s discussion of what art has historically looked like for black women..The quilts tie into the fact that women were restricted to being homemakers and this was often the only medium they had access to. Alice Walker brings up her mother’s garden, and how that was a form of creative expression for her as she had no access to any others. Walker writes, “For her, so hindered and intruded upon in so many ways, being an artist has still been a daily part of her life. This ability to hold on, even in very simple ways, is work black women have done for a very long time” (408). This is such an eloquent way o describe the beauty that black women have created from pain and oppression throughout history. Overall, great analysis, and I look forward to discussing this text in class – I have a lot of thoughts!!
Hello Anthony, really great blog post! I like how you connected the different readings together based on their shared themes. Similar to what you said, when reading Walker’s text as well as learning about Bisa Butler’s quilt making, there is such an important thing between the two and that is the shared history that is used. In the opening of In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens, by Alice Walker, she writes, “Who were these saints? These crazy, loony, pitiful women? Some of them, without a doubt, were our mothers and grandmothers…Our mothers and grandmothers, some of them: moving to music not yet written. And they waited.” (1-2). We see in this piece that deeper investigation into the historical underappreciated feelings of black women and where these feelings have developed from. In Walker’s writing, we also see how watching her mother shaped her to the person she is today. When Bisa Butler is creating her quilt, she ties in her families diverse backgrounds and discusses how these identities have created her identity.
Hi Anthony! I really enjoyed your blog post on Alice Walker’s “In Search of Our Mothers Gardens”. To answer one of your discussion questions, I think Alice Walker uses art and poetry to describe to the readers what she cannot put into words, and to show how black people still had creativity, even after all they had been put through. For example, Walker writes “How was the creativity of the black woman kept alive, year after year and century after century, when for most of the years black people have been in America, it was a punishable crime for a black person to read or write?” (403). She is expressing the need for art and poetry because for years black people were not allowed to learn how to read and write, and now that they are they are capable of showing how deep the oppression was through art and poetry. I think her mothers garden was such a big influence in her being able to express herself because it gave her the courage to seek out new outlets for what she was feeling. If her mom was able to express herself through the beauty of her garden, Walker could find her own ways to express herself, and in that she found art and poetry. For example, Walker writes “I notice that it is only when my mother is working in her flowers that she is radiant, almost to the point of being invisible-except as Creator: hand and eye,” (408). Walker was able to point out that her mother was at peace when doing what she loved, which I think influenced Walker to find something that she loved doing.
How does Alice Walker use art and poetry to help express how she feels to other people? Why do you think her mother’s garden was such a big influence in her being able to express herself?
Alice Walker uses art and poetry to help express how she feels to other people by showing how she really felt. She expressed her feelings in a very poetic way by talking about a poem by Okot P ‘Bitek. Alice stated, “And, if this were the end of the story, we would have cause to cry out in my paraphrase of Okot p’Bitek’s great poem: O, my clanswoman let us all cry together! Come, let us mourn the death of our mother, death of a Queen the ash that was produced by a great fire! O, this homestead is utterly dead close the gates.” (403). Alice loves to show heartfelt she is as a person overall and talks about how she really feels. Her mother’s garden had a big influence in her being able to express her feelings deeply because her mother was so close to her and was the woman who covered holes in her walls as sunflowers, Alice admires her mother a lot and for good reason.
Hi Anthony, this is a great analysis of the texts/resources. For starters I liked/agree with the beginning of your blog post about how different color variations and styles can really show how an artist’s mind works. Although it is used differently within different forms of art (like you stated in poetry), there is a backdrop of art around so many things that get overlooked. I strongly agree that Walker’s mother was a very strong figure in her life. Another quote along with yours that I think does a good job at showing that is, “Yet so many of the stories that I write, that we all write, are my mother’s stories. Only recently did I fully realize this: that through years oflistening to my mother’s stories of her life, I have absorbed not only the stories themselves, but something of the manner in which she spoke, something of the urgency that involves the knowledge that her stories-like her life-must be recorded.” (Page 7.) I think this quote illustrates very well that Walker looked up to her mother and was inspired by her ways even without realizing it. Her mother definitely was the root of her passion to spread this awareness and take action upon it. To answer your first discussion question I think that Alice Walker uses both art and poetry to get her ideas across to ehr audiences because both can be interpreted in different ways. Also, within certain forms of art or writing there can be more emotion expressed within them which for some people stand out more than the other. I think her mothers garden was such a large part of her expressing herself because it was a gateway to what she saw as a peaceful, divine, hopeful time of her life and when she creates these art’s and poems she is speaking almost from a place within how she felt watching her mother grow and nurture her gardens.
How can we use art and color to see what type of mood or setting the person is trying to instill for the viewer. Does the color or background help create a story if there are no words on the canvas?
I feel as if the artists use of the art is huge. Feel you can sketch out an outline of a painting and fill in the colors with your mind at times. But the colors you pick for the artwork can change the story of what you may have sketched out to begin with. I think you see this in both Bisa Butler’s artworks and in Faith Ringgold’s artworks. Both show different things such as people and buildings and are made in different styles but the use of color in both artists various works tells the story differently if the artworks had not color. I would say the color or background do help create a story even if no words are used. I look at Faith Ringgold’s “Woman on a Bridge #1 of 5: Tar Beach”, the use of color tells me something and in the background you see someone flying over the city skyline over what appears to be a family dinner.
Hi Anthony! Great job with your blog post. You made several good points and your connection between Alice Walker’s “In Search of Our Mothers Gardens” and the Quilts portrays a strong relationship. I agree with you, the passage written by Walker definitely shows what an influence Walker’s mother had on her life. Her mother did everything she could for the family and like you said it is clear to see how hardworking she was, as her job never truly ended. Despite her busy schedule and various roles however, her mother still found time to explore her creativity. During this time, African American women were unrecognized and underappreciated for their creative talents. In your post, you alluded to the idea that being unrecognized probably led to a motivation to inspire others to show off their talent in ways like poetry, art, etc. For Walker’s mom her garden is where her creativity flowed. People came to their yard to be given cuttings from flowers where they praised her mother. You also mentioned the idea of vibrant colors and the effect it has on the reader. The garden is described as being vibrant which gives the reader this idea that it was bright and a symbol of happiness. We also know that the garden had a variety of things and was something that her mother took great pride in. To answer one of the questions you asked, I think that her mothers garden was such a big influence on Walker being able to express herself because it had a lasting impact which inspired her. Walker writes “Guided by my heritage of a love of beauty and a respect for strength-in search of my mother’s garden, I found my own ” (409). This quote specifically shows the symbolism of her mothers garden and the inspiration it provided. Although her garden was real, it is also a symbol of self expression. It shows how creative one could be and emphasizes the idea that one should not feel limited. The garden also signifies the idea of the older generations and the inspiration they provided for the future. As I previously mentioned African Americans were not encouraged to express themselves and oftentimes their work was overlooked. For Walker, the garden shows the significance of culture and the accomplishments of African American women over time. Through her mothers garden Walker was able to find who she truly is. She discovers herself and uses her own passion to drive her life. I think overall the garden was the driving force in Walker’s life and sparked her inspiration heavily.
Anthony—great job on your blog post! I think you shared some really interesting perspectives which were able to help me think about the text in a different way. To answer your discussion question, “How can we use art and color to see what type of mood or setting the person is trying to instill for the viewer. Does the color or background help create a story if there are no words on the canvas?” I feel as though by using color itself (depending on the surrounding text), an author can provide the reader with certain feelings which establish mood. For example, in Alice Walker’s “In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens” the author describes her own mother’s garden as having lots of color. She writes, “A garden so brilliant with colors, so original in its design, so magnificent with life and creativity…” Here, Walker is establishing a sense of creativity and inspiration she draws from this memory of her mother’s garden. This sets the mood of something nostalgic, yet hopeful and inspiring. Her discussion and association of colors with originality is what ultimately sets the mood as something that’s filled with hope.
How does Alice Walker use art and poetry to help express how she feels to other people? Why do you think her mother’s garden was such a big influence in her being able to express herself?
Alice Walker uses art and poetry in a way that’s very charged up and very passionate. The entire time I was reading “In Search of Our Mothers Garden”, I could feel her energy and it was like her words were throwing punches. Not only did she sound strong, independent, and unapologetic, but she also sounded sweet and poetic. She states very stern, uplifting, and confident things such as, “And if we ask ourselves why, and search for and find the answer, we will know beyond all efforts to erase it from our minds, just who, and of what, we black American women are.” (403). She motivates and inspires people with her strong character and the way she articulates things. I believe that her mother’s garden was so important to her because it was a symbol of someone, she looked up too, someone who protected her, and that she loved dearly.
Hi Anthony!
Great job for your post! Your reflexion was very well thought out. I would now like to answer your first question which is “How does Alice Walker use art and poetry to help express how she feels to other people? Why do you think her mother’s garden was such a big influence in her being able to express herself?”
Walker’s use of art and poetry allows her to convey emotions, experiences, and perspectives in a deeply personal and evocative manner. Indeed, through lots of imageries such as, for example, “ In the selfless abstractions, their bodies became to the men who used them, they became more than “sexual objects,” more even than mere women: they became “Saints”” (401) or even metaphors, she can articulate complex feelings and ideas that might be challenging to express directly. By employing the creative freedom afforded by these mediums, Walker can reach audiences on a visceral level, fostering empathy and understanding.
Walker’s mother’s garden holds significant symbolic meaning in her life and work. The garden serves as a metaphor for growth, resilience, and beauty amidst adversity as we can see in the following quote “Whatever she planted grew as if by magic, and her fame as a grower of flowers spread over three counties. Because of her creativity with her flowers, even my memories of poverty are seen through a screen of blooms-sunflowers, petunias, roses, dahlias, forsythia, spirea, delphiniums, verbena … and on and on.” (408). It represents a sanctuary where Walker could find solace, inspiration, and a connection to her roots. The nurturing environment of the garden provided her with a sense of belonging and empowerment, shaping her identity and worldview.
Moreover, Walker’s upbringing in a rural, Southern environment imbued her with a deep appreciation for nature and its inherent symbolism. The garden, with its vibrant colors, fragrant scents, and life cycles, became a rich source of imagery and inspiration for her creative endeavors. It offered her a tangible canvas through which she could explore themes of growth, transformation, and renewal in her poetry and prose.
Hi Anthony! I really liked your blog post and the very insightful comments you made. I want to dive into your second discussion question, How can we use art and color to see what type of mood or setting the person is trying to instill for the viewer. Does the color or background help create a story if there are no words on the canvas? I think that art or music can be some of the most common forms of expression because it is something everyone can enjoy no matter the skill or interest level. Artists often use color as a way to express the mood of the piece they are trying to create, as a part of the story that said piece is telling. Looking at Faith Ringgold’s piece, “Street Story Quilt”, the colors differentiate between the events that these people live through. In the description of the artwork we read, “Each piece represents the same Harlem facade over three different moments in time. Representing key moments in Ringgold’s narrative arc, each facade, in turn, is comprised of a grid of curtained windows through which schematically-rendered Black figures sometimes pop their heads and evidence of both everyday life and various acts of devastation appears. Underneath the windows Ringgold penned a narrative that is divided into three chapters—The Accident, The Fire, and The Homecoming.” (Ringgold). It’s the same building and people in each piece. The brighter colors can represent the happier, easy times in these events, while the darker colors bring the mood of the piece down and make you sit back and think about what the piece is trying to tell you. There are no words on the quilt, but you don’t need it, the colors speak for themselves. The figures in the buildings demonstrate the emotion in each piece, creating a community in the apartment building without a simple conversation taking place. Art and color can tell an entire story without the need for a singular word on the page.
Hey Anthony, great post this week! I really enjoyed your entire analysis of the reading. I liked how well you talked about how we as readers can interpret the authors mind and thoughts by how it is displayed in the reading. Alice Walker does a great job of this and it shows throughout. A great example of this would be at the beginning of the reading when she said “Only recently did I fully realize this: that through years of listening to my mother’s stories of her life, I have absorbed not only the stories themselves, but something of the manner in which she spoke, something of the urgency that involves the knowledge that her stories-like her life-must be recorded” (pg. 7). This is showing how Alice is now able to understand and express her stories in a much more meaningful way.
To answer your first question Alice Walker uses poetry to paint the picture of whats going on in the reading. Her mothers garden was such a big influence in her being able to express herself because that is where she has so many memories growing up. For your second question we can use art and color to see what type of mood or setting a person is try to create by simply looking at it. As we know dark colors feel much more down and gloomy while bright colors give us that happy / bright feeling. Color definitely helps tell a story with no words because it shows the mood more visibly.