TRISH WILLIAMS

Fiber artist.

I bring together the rhythm of hand-dyed, painted and commercially-made fabrics with the syncopated lines of my quilting to tell stories about the African Diaspora and my community. While my textiles are steeped in the tradition of the story quilt, cloth-based narratives constructed frequently from scraps of clothing and other familiar fabrics to record history at a particular time and place, they are intended to be viewed on the wall rather than to dress a bed. My tales are for all to see and know, rather than for just an intimate few. I challenge the status quo, refusing to accept the stereotypes forced upon me by society. Instead, I question the very nature of these stereotypes using familiar forms and processes to hold the viewer’s attention.
 

I created Miss Laura Fruit Tree in honor of Laura Nelson once LaShawnda (Crowe Storm) introduced me to her and her family. Miss Laura Fruit Tree made an appearance in Southside With You, the film about Barack and Michelle Obama's first date.