Baltimore Sonnets

 Book 21: Love Sonnets from Shakespeare to Baltimore This is the first book in the series that I didn't use a wedding dress as inspiration. I transformed this dress into some of the book pages. Creating this book signals an expansion of the work I've been doing with Shakespeare's sonnets since 2019. I upcycled the Sunday New York Times into a book page. By embroidering and illustrating newspapers, this book offers additional ways of reading the "news." Embroidered cover of My Tongue-Tied Muse by Suzanne Coley

Book 13: Love Sonnets from Shakespeare to Baltimore  What makes a poem a sonnet? A few of my images for this series of textile books have been inspired by the Victoria and Albert Museum's wonderful history of the sonnet on their website.

Growing up in Queensbridge, NYC inspired volumes of poetry.  Over the years, I've been using these poems in my artist's books, combining them with illustrations, paintings, and textile manipulations to examine the human condition and my experiences.  Recently I've been exploring other ways to share my stories and art.  This is the year of "Yes" and I hope to publish these poems soon.  

Issue 21: Maryland It's a pleasure to announce that a few of my textile books and a view of my private space are featured in the upcoming Maryland issue of Quiltfolk.  I will be joining many amazing and talented artists living and working in Maryland.  To receive a 20% discount on your copy of the magazine, use code SuzanneQF21.  

Documentary short film coming soon! Two years ago I began visiting 89-year-old master quilter and dressmaker Catherine Wooten to learn everything I can about textiles and tailoring.   Two trips a a week to her home studio during the pandemic.  See what we created! Coming soon, thanks to a grant by the Maryland State Arts Council . Special thanks to Wide Angle Youth Media for their amazing camera crew and team!

In May, I was commissioned by the Baltimore Museum of Art to design and construct three books as part of the Gee's Bend Community project. Each custom-made book contains quilt blocks created by program participants during the BMA Violet Hour: Gee's Bend Quilting Bee on March 31, 2021. 228 quilt blocks were sewn by 164 community members from the United States and Canada. The final community quilt, constructed and quilted by AAQB master quilter Catherine Wooten, contains 63 blocks and is 7ft by 9ft. The remaining quilt blocks are carefully bound in the books. The quilts and the books are currently on display at the BMA until September 12, 2021. Many thanks to the quilting community for your wonderful and inspiring quilt blocks.  

 Finalizing the pages of my textile book.    I still have a lot of embroidery and sewing to do, but it is with joy that I complete this portion of the series, "Love Sonnets from Shakespeare to Baltimore."

I'm truly enjoying creating new books for my series Love Sonnets from Shakespeare to Baltimore. Each day I wake up to a pile of unfinished pages on my table.  Some days I silkscreen the fabrics.  Some days, I sew the pages together.  Some days, I carve linocuts and print them on the pages. Each day there is something to do.   Yes, life is like a sonnet, we weave our way through difficult verses and stanzas.  Then, when we think we know the ending, there is a volta, a dramatic turn that changes everything.  

This week I visited the home of master quilter Ms. Vera Hall.  She pulled these beauties out of her closet. Ms. Vera hand appliquéd and hand quilted these beauties.  They are stunning in person. Photos do not capture their exquisite details and fine stitching.  

Here is the new date of the quilting bee at the Baltimore Museum of Art hosted by the African American Quilters of Baltimore .   Hope to see you there!

  Sweet Semblance Cover of newest book from my series Love Sonnets from Shakespeare to Baltimore sem·blance /ˈsembləns/ Learn to pronounce noun the outward appearance or apparent form of something, especially when the reality is different. *Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 3/8/2021 388,035 confirmed cases  7,963 deaths    Update in New York State - 3/8/2021 1,700,091 confirmed cases  48,401 deaths     Total in United States: 29,046,014 confirmed cases, 525,728 deaths Total Worldwide: 117,126,959 confirmed cases, 2,599,255 deaths * All numbers are taken from Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center

Music to Hear  Sonnet VIII: embroidered newspapers, textiles, silkscreened Shakespeare Sonnet For me, books have always been priceless time capsules, used to pass down experiences, stories, values, and aspirations to the far-removed generations.  I am thankful for the generous support of the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation  for my project Love Sonnets from Shakespeare to Baltimore.  This project uses the text of Shakespeare's sonnets, recycled wedding dresses, quilts, and original printmaking to create finely crafted couture art books.   I look forward to extending this series by fifteen new books in 2021. *Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 2/25/2021 379,466 confirmed cases  7,805 deaths   9,635 recovered Update in New York State - 2/25/2021 1,619,924 confirmed cases  47,264 deaths    142,307 recovered Total in United States: 28,410,904 confirmed cases, 508,114 deaths Total Worldwide: 112,967,324 confirmed cases, ...

  life is a sonnet  we inch through its structure and scheme - suzanne coley I've been spending my time in Baltimore at the amazing studio of 89 year-old textile artist Catherine Wooten.  This is one of her beautiful quilts.  This year I hope to share more of her art, her technical brilliance, and its influence on my new series of work. *Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 1/16/2021 324,031 confirmed cases  6,541 deaths   9,444 recovered Update in New York State - 1/16/2021 1,212,922 confirmed cases  40,745 deaths    113,919 recovered Total in United States: 23,474,628 confirmed cases, 393,049 deaths Total Worldwide: 94,132,992 confirmed cases, 2,015,323 deaths * All numbers are taken from Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center

A Time to Help. A Time to be Kind.  A Time to be Safe.  A Time to do what you Love.  A Time to change what you can change.  A Time to move forward in ways you never though imaginable.  A time to make the best of each second.  A Time to turn off negativity. Be the Lightbulb . . .  *Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 12/28/2020 269,183 confirmed cases  5,740 deaths   9,300 recovered Update in New York State - 12/28/2020 922,145 confirmed cases  37,411 deaths    99,583 recovered Total in United States: 19,151,651 confirmed cases, 333,326 deaths Total Worldwide: 80,979,476 confirmed cases, 1,768,048 deaths * All numbers are taken from Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center

During the pandemic my quilting guild, The African American Quilters of Baltimore, has not been able to meet in person.  In June, we began meeting virtually, mainly to check-in and make sure everyone was okay.   With each month, our virtual meetings have become more interactive and educational.  However, some of our older members in their eighties and nineties have not been able to participate because many don't have computers or smart phones.  One day in September, I received a call from one of our senior members and she asked if I could stop by her home to photograph some of the quilts she has been making during the lockdown. Her name is Catherine Wooten and she will be 85 in January 2021.  All the quilts in these photos were created by her during the pandemic, and this is only a part of what she did!   Her passion and energy have truly been inspiring.  I now visit her weekly to try and keep up with her amazing output.  I love her work! *Coronav...

 During the pandemic I completed my first book of poetry, RED . Growing up in the Queensbridge  housing projects exposed me to the good, the bad, the beautiful, the ugly, the sane, and the insane.  And, I wrote about it all.    *Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 11/17/2020 169,805 confirmed cases  4,335 deaths   8,380 recovered Update in New York State - 11/17/2020 568,778 confirmed cases  34,076 deaths    81,908 recovered Total in United States: 11,340,563 confirmed cases, 248,429 deaths Total Worldwide: 55,547,836 confirmed cases, 1,336,670 deaths * All numbers are taken from Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center

And having climbed the steep-up heavenly hill, Resembling strong youth in his middle age, Yet mortal looks adore his beauty still, Attending on his golden pilgrimage.        ~ Shakespeare *Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 11/06/2020 151,505 confirmed cases  4,194 deaths   8,255 recovered Update in New York State - 11/06/2020 518,812 confirmed cases  33,657 deaths    80,225recovered Total in United States: 9,623,471 confirmed cases, 235,056 deaths Total Worldwide: 48,885,919 confirmed cases, 1,236,707 deaths * All numbers are taken from Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center

I am delighted to announce that my art book project Love Sonnets from Shakespeare to Baltimore  will be supported with a grant from the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation . Generous support of the foundation will enable me to extend the series of unique art books by 15 new books in the coming year.  Hopefully, the pandemic situation will allow me to also implement the community engagement component of the project. Many thanks to the foundation for their support! *Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 10/30/2020 144,314 confirmed cases  4,137deaths   8,164 recovered Update in New York State - 10/30/2020 505,431 confirmed cases  33,487 deaths    79,621 recovered Total in United States: 9,034,957confirmed cases, 229,585 deaths Total Worldwide: 45,475,639 confirmed cases, 1,187,014 deaths * All numbers are taken from Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center

from Shakespeare to Baltimore  The journey continues:  I am back working on my long-term project Love Sonnets from Shakespeare to Baltimore.  I recently visited my local thrift store and found these beauties.   I have never seen the store filled with so many wedding gowns.  As always, I wonder what their  stories are . . .  *Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 10/21/2020 137,236 confirmed cases  4,085 deaths   7,960 recovered Update in New York State - 10/21/2020 488,056 confirmed cases  33,371 deaths    78,645 recovered Total in United States: 8,327,531 confirmed cases, 221,930 deaths Total Worldwide: 41,088,902 confirmed cases, 1,128,701 deaths * All numbers are taken from Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center

My Art in the Time of a Pandemic Emergence A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.  Ecclesiastes 1:4 *Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 7/3/2020 68,961 confirmed cases  3,223 deaths   5,023 recovered Update in New York State - 7/3/2020 395,872 confirmed cases  32,137 deaths    70,794 recovered Total in United States: 2,739,435 confirmed cases, 129,432 deaths Total Worldwide: 11,048,509 confirmed cases, 524,663 deaths * All numbers are taken from Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center