Interview with Hollis Chatelain, October 22, 1999

Partial Transcript: --on Friday, at 9:08 in the morning.

Segment Synopsis: The interviewer, Paula Bosselman, introduces her interview subject, Hollis Chatelain. Chatelain is being interviewed for the Quilt Alliance’s Quilters’ S.O.S Project.

Partial Transcript: How did you choose what you were going to bring for us this morning?

Segment Synopsis: Chatelain discusses the quilt she brought for the interview, which is one of her favorite quilts. She talks about how her quilts are known for their African imagery and other design techniques she is known for. Chatelain describes her process in creating the quilt, what inspired her to create it, and the various African fabrics she uses the create the quilts.

Keywords: African fabrics; African imagery; African inspired art; African inspired quilts; Fabric arts; Fabrics

Subjects: Africans in art; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Women; Women in art

Partial Transcript: Well, I, I started teaching myself to sew because, you noticed, I'm really basic, and--1991.

Segment Synopsis: Chatelain talks about what she did prior to quilting, working in photography and illustration for a number of years. She discusses her experiences in Africa in the Peace Corps and how they influenced her art. She then talks about how she began to quilt and how people inspired her to create art. Chatelain expresses her desire to depict Africa and Africans not in turmoil, like in typical American media.

Keywords: African artistry; African inspired art; Americans in Africa; Artistry; Fabric arts; Fabrics; Perceptions of Africa

Subjects: Africans; Africans in art; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Peace Corps Institute (U.S.); Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Women; Women in art

Partial Transcript: How did you put the image that you were going to quilt onto the fabric that you were going to work with?

Segment Synopsis: Chatelain describes how she painted her design onto her fabric, using a fabric dye to do so. She also discusses how she does not feel like a quilter, but a drawer who works with a fabric medium. She talks about creativity and artistry as something she is able to do and teach well.

Keywords: African inspired art; Artistic processes; Creative processes; Fabric arts; Fabric dying; Fabrics; Technical aspects of art; Technical aspects of quilting; Visual artists

Subjects: Africans in art; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Machine sewing; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Visual arts; Women; Women in art

Partial Transcript: Do you see yourself continuing with the quilting?

Segment Synopsis: Chatelain talks about her love of fabric painting and quilting because of the 3-dimensional value and textures of the quilts.

Keywords: Africans in art; Fabric arts; Fabric painting; Fabrics; Quilt painting; Textures in art

Subjects: Africans in art; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Textures; Visual arts; Women; Women in art

Partial Transcript: Is Africa probably going to always influence your work?

Segment Synopsis: Chatelain describes the work she does outside of African imagery, including underwater quilts which she paints and then pieces. She talks about her quilt which is included in the 100 Best Quilts, discussing her surprise that she was included. Chatelain discusses her love of baobab trees, which are a part of her 100 Best quilt called "Sahel." She tells anecdotes about being in the Sahel and the impact the experience had on her. Chatelain discusses how Africans perceive realistic work of themselves and how this kind of representation is not typically well-received in Africa.

Keywords: African influenced art; African women; Artistic inspirations; Baobab trees; Creative processes; Cultural differences; Imagery in culture; Influences; Realistic art; Sahel region

Subjects: Africans in art; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Quilting; Quilts; Sahel; Textile artists; Textiles; Women; Women in art

Partial Transcript: Okay, it took me about a year to learn to live with this, because every time I would look at it, I would always just see my mistakes.

Segment Synopsis: Chatelain discusses how she learned to be more confident in her art and accept it as it is, with mistakes. She talks about how she stopped pointing out her mistakes and began to see her art with an objective eye. Chatelain discusses her belief that choosing the correct size is essential to the success of an art piece, particularly believing large pieces are more effective in her work than smaller pieces. She talks about the people of Africa and how they inspire her color choices through their everyday lives and colorful garments. Chatelain details how fabric is made and distributed in Africa, as well as how fabric is used in Africa.

Keywords: African fabrics; Artistic processes; Bright colors; Confidence in art; Confidence in self; Creative processes; Fabrics; Fear; Large art pieces; Overcoming fear; Self-confidence

Subjects: Africans in art; Artists; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Designers; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textile designers; Textiles; Women; Women designers; Women in art

Partial Transcript: When a baby is born, the first thing that is put on that baby is a string around the waist, a cotton string.

Segment Synopsis: Chatelain talks about various African customs which are related to fabric. She talks about the cultural differences between fabric use in Africa and in Western society, in which African women show their breasts and not thighs while Western culture is the opposite. Chatelain discusses the privileges of American society and how living in Africa has affected her children’s lives. She compares the generosity of African people with people in Western societies.

Keywords: African cultures; Americans in Africa; Cultural differences; Daily life in African; Women in Africa

Subjects: Africans in art; Artists; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Families; Mothers; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Women; Women in art

Partial Transcript: How many quilts have you made, to date, because I--how many quilts have you made, to date, reference your experience in Africa?

Segment Synopsis: Chatelain describes how all of her quilts, in a way, reference her time and experiences in Africa. She discusses a few of her quilts and why they reference Africa, even if their imagery is not African in nature. She talks about the colors, fabrics, and the images on the quilts and how they are influenced by Africa specifically. Chatelain concludes the interview by discussing what she wants people to know about African people and that they are not just statistics, but real people.

Keywords: African inspired art; Africans in art; Art about water; Art inspirations; Bush fires; Dust; Fabric arts; Fabrics; Grief in art

Subjects: Africans in art; Artists; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Designers; Grief in art; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textile designers; Textiles; Women; Women designers; Women in art