QSOS Interview with Michael Cummings

Partial Transcript: Dr. Carolyn L Mazloomi and Michael Cummings are next on the program and while they're getting settled in

Partial Transcript: Can you hear me now? Great.

Segment Synopsis: Carolyn L Mazloomi introduces Michael Cummings and some of his artistic background. Cummings proceeds to describe the touchstone piece for the interview titled "African Jazz #10" and explains how the series of his African Jazz quilts came about.

Keywords: African American quiltmakers; African American quilts; Gender in quiltmaking; Male quiltmakers

Partial Transcript: I said and I looked at it and I thought there were opportunities for me to make a quilt so I bought it

Segment Synopsis: Cummings explains the origin and design process of his African Jazz quilt series and where some of the quilts in that series ended up; some are on Hallmark cards and on display at colleges.

Keywords: African American quilts; Art quiltmaking; Art quilts; Design process

Partial Transcript: That was my next question because I've been curating your shows.

Segment Synopsis: Cummings discusses some of the different locations and collections that his work is being housed in, including an Absolut Vodka advertisement.

Keywords: Quilt shows/exhibitions

Partial Transcript: How did you become involved in making quilts?

Segment Synopsis: Cummings explains how he came to quiltmaking. While working as the Technical Director for the Department of Cultural Affairs in New York City, Cummings became involved in an event hosted by the Department of Cultural Affairs at the American Craft Museum (now the Museum of Art and Design) where he created a banner for a parade. This was the first time that he used fabric for his artwork.

Keywords: African American quiltmakers; Design process; Learning quiltmaking; Male quiltmakers; Quilt Purpose - Artistic expression; quiltmaking process

Partial Transcript: Can you tell the audience what inspires you? What inspires you to make the quilts that you make?

Segment Synopsis: Cummings reflects on the several things that inspire him in his quilt making. While music is a heavy influence for him, he is also inspired by current events and politics.

Keywords: Quilt Purpose - Artistic expression; Quiltmaking inspiration

Partial Transcript: So can you let us know how you acquire or where you find the materials that are in your quilts?

Segment Synopsis: Cummings elaborates on his quilt making process from his original visualization to the choices of fabric and the actual sewing process. He then explains his studio; he uses the floor of the parlor in his home as his work space. He also explains his method of time management which allow him to stay on track with his quilting while working also working a full time job. Cummings goes on to mention some of the quilting groups and guilds that he belongs to.

Keywords: Art quiltmaking; Design process; Dimensional applique; Embellishment techniques; Empire Quilters; Hand applique; Harlem Needle Arts; Quilt guild; Studio Art Quilt Associates; Time management; Women of Color Quilters Network; Work or Studio space; fabric choice; quiltmaking process; stitching

Partial Transcript: Who are some of the artists, if any, that have influenced your work?

Segment Synopsis: Cummings reflects on some of the artists that inspire or influence his own artwork.

Keywords: Bob Dylan; Frida Kahlo; Georgia O'Keefe; Henri Matisse; Jacob Lawrence; Pablo Picasso; Romare Bearden; Susan Shine

Partial Transcript: Why do you think quilts are important?

Segment Synopsis: Cummings shares how he understands quilts to be important to both family and American history.

Keywords: Generational quiltmaking; Quilt Purpose - Comfort; Quilt Purpose - Utilitarian; Quilt history; Quiltmaking for family; Quilts as gifts; inherited quilt

Partial Transcript: There are many quilters in the audience that are professional quilters or quilters that aspire to be

Segment Synopsis: Cummings gives words of advice for young and aspiring quiltmakers. He shares memories from his first quilt show in Hartford, Connecticut and some of his favorite shows that he has traveled for. One of the biggest events he attended was an annual quilt convention show in Japan that he was invited to attend.

Keywords: Learning quiltmaking; Quilt shows/exhibitions; Teaching quiltmaking; professional quiltmaker; quilt magazines

Partial Transcript: Mr. Cummings, do you have in your head a quilt that you haven't quite- you haven't made yet?

Segment Synopsis: Cummings responds to an audience question about having any quilt ideas that he has not made yet. He answers about wanting to create a series of quilts about his childhood in Los Angeles, California.

Keywords: childhood; inspiration

Partial Transcript: You've been quilting for forty years, you say, have you ever looked at some of your earlier quilts and thought "I need to rework them"

Segment Synopsis: Cummings responds to an audience question about reworking previously finished quilts; he never goes back and fixes or adds to previous works. He also talks about some of his unfinished pieces which he refers to as "ghost quilts".

Keywords: ghost quilts; quiltmaking process

Partial Transcript: Mr. Cummings, I love how you called your sewing machine your "dance partner". Have you kept the same dance partner for many years

Segment Synopsis: Cummings responds to an audience question regarding his sewing machine which he refers to as his "dance partner". Cummings explains that he has had the same sewing machine for forty years and that all of his quilts have been with the same one.

Keywords: Home sewing machine; stitching

Partial Transcript: Yes, Mr. Cummings, do you ever collaborate with other quilters?

Segment Synopsis: Cummings responds to an audience question about whether or not he has ever collaborated with other artists to create a quilt, which he has not done.

Keywords: Social quiltmaking activities; collaboration

Partial Transcript: If I could please address your question as someone who's also got the day job and am the daughter of an artist

Segment Synopsis: Cummings responds to an audience questions regarding his time management when it comes to quiltmaking and working a full time job.

Keywords: Design Wall; Design process; Time management; Work or Studio space

Partial Transcript: Michael, you have large collections of art as well as quilts. Just collections period- you have lots of stuff.

Segment Synopsis: Cummings responds to Mazloomi's question about planning for the "afterlife" of his collections and about creating a personal inventory and archive of collections.

Keywords: Archive; Collecting quilts; Donating quilts; Gender in quiltmaking; Male quiltmakers; Women of Color Quilters Network; digital archiving

Partial Transcript: You've talked about how much time you spend working, but on average how much time does one quilt take?

Segment Synopsis: Cummings responds to an audience question about how long it takes him to make a quilt. Each quilt takes Cummings about two months to design, piece and finish embellishing.

Keywords: Art quiltmaking; Art quilts; Design Wall; Design process; Dimensional applique; Embellishment techniques; Improvisational piecing; Time management; applique; quiltmaking process

Partial Transcript: Michael, thank you so much for being here today and sharing your work with us.

Segment Synopsis: Cummings responds to audience questions about knowing when a quilt is finished as well as another about developing his personal style of quilting.

Keywords: Design process; quiltmaking process

Partial Transcript: Well I want to thank Michael for coming

Segment Synopsis: Mazloomi thanks Cummings for coming and speaking.