Carole Lyles Shaw

Partial Transcript: [Parker]: Hi, I'm Emma Parker and I am here interviewing Carole Lyles Shaw.

Segment Synopsis: Emma Parker introduces and interviews Carole Lyles Shaw. Shaw describes her touchstone quilt, during the time of the interview just the top has been completed and it has not been quilted yet. She states that she will be sending it to a long-arm quilter because it is a large size.

Shaw describes this quilt using the term Afro-Modern, meaning using African fabrics in a modern way, the African prints are cotton fabrics. In the Afro-Modern quilts in the series Shaw creates, showcases usually one / two African print fabrics to showcase the print, with high contrast.

The blocks are freehanded and improvised. Shaw likes to improve piece her borders.

Keywords: Aesthetics; Borders; Fiber - Cotton; Modern quilts; Textiles; African American quiltmakers

Subjects: Colorfastness (Textiles); Quilting.; African American quilts

Partial Transcript: [Parker]: So you mention that this quilt is, maybe, waiting for a second set of borders is that typical of the way that you work?

Segment Synopsis: Shaw describes her process, she takes photos of blocks as she works then decides on a final layout. When she takes a photograph and then comes back she can see things she did not notice when designing on her design wall. She states an old technique she used to use, before smartphones, for a similar effect was to buy the small peepholes created for doors and look through them to see another perspective of her design. She also likes to send photos to friends to get a second opinion on her design ideas.

Keywords: Art quiltmaking; Art quilts; Design process; Friendships through quilting; African American quiltmakers

Subjects: Quilts--Design.

Partial Transcript: [Parker]: Do you typically work on just one quilt at a time, or do you typically have a lot of things going on?

Segment Synopsis: Shaw describes that she typically has multiple projects going on at once. In her studio space, she has a large design wall to work on projects. She likes to work in series, her Touchstone quilt is from both the 'Persian Curve' and 'Afro-Modern' Series. Sometimes when she is uncertain about the direction of a project she will pack it up, and return to the project at a later date. Additionally, if she creates a teaching sample in a class and she likes it, she might finish the project.

Keywords: Design Wall; Design process; Fabric stash; Quilt design; Art quiltmaking

Partial Transcript: [Parker]: So I know that you work in series, and are starting to teach a class about working in series. I am wondering if you could talk a little bit more about that process.

Segment Synopsis: Shaw mainly works in series, focusing on modern aesthetics and fine art pieces, such as an art quilt or wall hanging. Working in series starts with a focal inspiration, such as 20th and 21st-century painters and contemporary artists on Instagram. For Shaw, a series does not mean repeating a pattern multiple times or recreating the same quilt in multiple colors. She describes the design elements of her quilt series. A series for Shaw means, expanding, flipping, or reinterpreting.

Shaw states that modern quilts and art quilts differentiate because modern quilts are typically functional quilts to be used on someone's bed. Art quilts do have some crossover, where art quilts will be unique and each piece is meant to be hung on the wall as fine art. In art quilts, Shaw uses non-traditional fabrics, or techniques for art quilts such as printing on photographs, using repurposed fabric, or surface design.

Keywords: Art quiltmaking; Art quilts; Color balance; Design process; Modern quiltmaking; Painting; Professional artists; Quilt series; Quilt design

Partial Transcript: [Parker]: I noticed that you use the word modern, which is a work that some people have a lot of opinions about, and are hesitant to describe their work as that.

Segment Synopsis: Shaw states that people often think that 'modern' quilting has a rigid set of rules or expectations. Modern quilting has a vast set of definitions. Shaw states that the genre is emerging, fluid, and creating new design elements. For Shaw quilting is about expanding, growing, and learning.

Keywords: Modern quilts; Teaching quiltmaking; Modern quiltmaking

Partial Transcript: [Parker]: Maybe we will go back a little bit, and I am just curious how you started quilting.

Segment Synopsis: Shaw began quilting because she wanted to make quilts for her nieces and nephews. She was self-taught and discovered art quilts through a book at the library. She later joined the African American Quilters of Baltimore. She got lessons from members of the quilting group. Before starting quilting, Shaw explored other art mediums such as painting, and stained glass making.

Before this, she has no experience with quilting or sewing. At the time she did not know quilters in her family, but later found out her aunt quilted and showed her a Baltimore album quilt that she had made.

She states in her teaching many people carry the burden of the 'rules' or traditional quiltmaking, which she likes challenging.

Keywords: African American quiltmakers; Art quilts; Learning quiltmaking; Teaching quiltmaking; Baltimore Album quilts

Subjects: Album quilts; African American quiltmakers

Partial Transcript: [Parker]: So, you mention this a little bit. You mention your students, you do quite a bit of teaching in many different modalities. You have pre-recorded classes, you have written two books, and live lecturing.

Segment Synopsis: Shaws' weekly quilting schedule has shifted in the past three years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, she had been traveling and teaching. In the recent three years, she has embraced virtually teaching quilting classes, so she can connect with students all over the world. She enjoys teaching her quilting students how to be 'free' and explore while showing her personal process and techniques.

Keywords: Blogging; Female quiltmakers; Teaching quiltmaking; Art education

Subjects: Quilting

Partial Transcript: [Parker]: One thing you teach is a class or a workshop on sustainable stashing, and umm, you did a version of it for our Quilt Alliance fundraiser, Quilters Take a Moment.

Segment Synopsis: Shaw states that she considers sustainability, and her consumption habits and how they affect people around the world. She states that before she moved to Florida, about 10 years ago, into an intentionally smaller living space she confronted that she had acquired a large amount of fabric. Shaw deliberately uses the term 'fabric hoarder' when describing herself and others who have a large amount of fabric.

Shaw's sustainability focus is on confronting buying and using habits. She expresses that quilters should consider the fabric that they already have in their own home as a lens of sustainability, and consider the impact of their stash after they pass away. Now, she offers a lecture and a workshop focused on sustainability to be proactive about the topic within the quilting community.

Keywords: Fabric selection; Fabric stash; Fabric/Quilt shops; Quiltmaking process; Work or studio space

Subjects: Quilting; Textile fabrics

Partial Transcript: [Parker]: The first, that you mentioned a little bit, there is two questions that are adjacent on the list. One, is what quilters have influenced you? And the other is what artists have influenced you?

Segment Synopsis: Shaw finds inspiration on social media, she follows other quilters who work improvisationally. She tries to not be influenced, so her work does not look similar to other artists and quilters. She appreciates 'bravery' in quilters who work differently than traditional quiltmaking.

In terms of artists, Shaw likes to look at contemporary painters who work in 'geometric abstraction' or 'hard-edged abstraction' on Instagram. She also likes to look at, and make collages. She also likes to look at black and white photography, to understand values.

Keywords: Color balance; Design process; Modern quilts; Collages

Subjects: Art quilts

Partial Transcript: [Parker]: In what ways, or do you think, that your quilts reflect your culture or identity?

Segment Synopsis: Shaw's work reflects her identity and culture as an African American woman, she likes to work with African fabrics such as indigo, kente cloth, and mud cloth. These fabric choices are a conscious choice in her quilting. She is also studies 20th and 21st-century Black artists, such as Faith Ringgold.

Shaw also makes art quilts that address Black military personnel, primarily during WWII using collected photographs from her family, or Ebay. She prints these photographs on fabric and then uses additional fabric to create art quilts.

Keywords: African American quiltmakers; Faith Ringgold; Military service; Quilt purpose - Patriotism; Quilt series; Quiltmaking style

Subjects: African American quiltmakers; African American quilts--West African influences; Portraits on quilts; Kente cloth

Partial Transcript: [Parker]: My question is what do you think is next for you? What are you starting to get into that you are excited about?

Segment Synopsis: Shaw states her next project is that she will participate in the 100-Day Project, meaning she will make small pieces for 100 days. She is not entirely sure of the project's direction, but she created a blog post addressing the project. For future projects, she is returning to her spirit project quilt series, and she has some designs for her geometric abstraction series.

Keywords: Design process; Quilt series; Art quilts

Subjects: Artists