Dindga McCannon

Dindga McCannon
Born Dindga McCannon
July 31, 1947
Nationality American
Known for Art, Illustration, Quilting
Website http://art-alive.com/dindga/

Dindga McCannon, born July 31, 1947, is an African-American artist, quilter, author and illustrator.

McCannon was born and raised in Harlem and inspired to become an artist at the age of 10. She is self-taught and works intuitively. Calling herself a "fiber artist" she works at "fusing my fine art "training" with the traditional women's needlework taught to me by my mother, Lottie K. Porter and grandmother Hattie Kilgo-sewing", beading, embroidery and quilting into what is now known as ArtQuilts.[1]

As a 1960's member of Weusi, Dindga became interested in the Black Arts movement. In the 1970's, she was part of the first group show of professional black women artists in New York City.[2] Dindga has been an artist for 50 years. In addition to her work as a quilter author, and illustrator, Dindga considers herself a costume designer and muralist and a print maker. Her work is a celebration of women's lives, portraits. Her art is a window into "herstory."

She recently presented at the Art of Justice: Articulating an Ethos and Aesthetic of the Movement[3] conference at New York University presented by the Caribbean Cultural Center-African Diaspora Institute in Collaboration with the Department of Art and Public Policy, New York University; Institute of African American Affairs, New York University; and Institute for Research in African American Studies, Columbia University.

Memberships

McCannon is a member of two artist’s collectives, Weusi and Where We At (a black woman's collective from the 1970s).

Books

McCannon has written and illustrated two books. Peaches, published by Dell in 1977, tells the story of a young black girl growing up in Harlem tells about her life with her family and her ambition to be an artist.

Wilhemina Jones, Future Star, published by Delacorte in 1980, has a similar theme, with a young black girl growing up in Harlem in the mid-1960s who dreams of pursuing an art career and leaving the oppressive atmosphere of her home.

McCannon has also illustrated books for others: Omar at X-mas by Edgar White, Lothrop, Lee & Shepardd, and Speak to the Winds, African Proverbs, written by K. O. Opuku, published by Lothrop, Lee & Shepard in 1972.[4]

Selected Quilts

McCannon has a quilt (entitled "Yekk's Song") in the permanent collection of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture[5]

Exhibitions

One Woman Shows

In 2009, McCannon had a one-woman exhibition titled "(This) Woman's Work is Never Done-Celebrating 44 years of Art Making," It was featured at the Hamilton Landmark Galleries, 467 West 144th Street in Harlem.[6]

McCannon's work has appeared in many group shows since 1971.[7]

Selected Group Shows

Commissions

McCannon has also been commissioned to create various pieces of art.

Collections

Awards

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ Harlem Open Artists Studio Tour
  2. ↑ Farrington, Lisa E. (2005-01-01). Creating their own image: the history of African-American women artists. Oxford ; New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 019516721X.
  3. ↑ "Nov. 7th | The Art of Justice Conference". cccadi.org. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  4. ↑ Dindga McCannon World Catalog
  5. ↑ Black Threads: An African American Quilting Sourcebook by Kyra E. Hicks, page 158.
  6. ↑ This Woman's Work is Never Done Pinta Manual, retrieved March 15, 2009
  7. ↑ Dindga McCannon African American Visual Artists Database
  8. ↑ Art in Embassies official site
  9. ↑ Brooklyn Museum Official Site
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