Stories in Textiles

Stories in Textiles
While often used for utilitarian purposes, such as clothing, bedding, and rugs, textile art is also used by cultures around the world as a way to preserve their histories, stories, and traditions. The children viewed examples of stories in textiles, including Hmong story cloths, Faith Ringgold’s story quilts, and Chilean and Peruvian Arpilleras, then created their own storycloths (photo 1).

Hmong story cloths. (photo 3) The Hmong are an ethnic group, originally from the mountains of South China and Laos. During the war in Laos, many Hmong fled the country and were resettled as refugees in Thailand and Western countries. Their traditional arts include complex textile designs. The story cloths they are known for are a recent development. Hmong men began making drawings of traditional stories so that they’d be remembered during the difficult days of war. They started making stories about the war, as well. In the refugee camps, the women would stitch these stories on cloth. These story cloths became an important source of income for the Hmong in the refugee camps.

Faith Ringgold’s Story quilts. (photo 2) Faith Ringgold is an African-American artist who draws inspiration from her roots. Quilting and storytelling are traditional art forms in the African-American and African communities. Quilts often tell stories, or send messages, using symbols. Ringgold drew on this history, taking it a step further, by telling personal stories through both pictures and words. Some of her story quilts are almost like books in the form of a quilt.

Arpilleras. (photo 4) Arpilleras are three-dimensional textile pictures, common in South America. They originated in Chile, where women political prisoners made them to send secret notes to outside helpers. Today, the best known arpilleras come from the shantytowns around Lima, Peru. Arpilleras tell the stories of everyday life and political injustices through pictures.

Resources
Books
Dia's Story Cloth: The Hmong People's Journey of Freedom, by Dia Cha
The Whispering Cloth: A Refugee's Story, by Pegi Deitz Shea
Tar Beach, by Faith Ringgold
Stitching Stars: The Story Quilts of Harriet Powers, by Mary E. Lyons
Tonight is Carnaval, by Arthur Dorros

Online activities and resources
Faith Ringgold’s official site – view images of her story quilts www.faithringgold.com
Hmong Story cloth images http://www.hmongstudies.com/PajNtaubImageLibrary
Images of arpilleras (this is a commercial site) http://www.crossroadstrade.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=CT&Category_Code=ARPILLERASPrint and color an arpillera http://www.spiritseasons.com/client20/pdf/coloring-page.pdf