QUILT INDEX RECORD
12-8-6706
Who documented this quilt?
Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Women of Color Quilters Network; Quilts and Human Rights; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project
Where are the records for this quilt housed?
Michigan State University Museum
Michigan Quilt Project Number:
15.0095
If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:
2014:55.42
Quilt's title:
Anyone Can Fly
Who helped you fill out the form?
Aleia Brown
When was the form filled out?
2/28/2017
Quilt top made by:
Jones, Arlene Kweli
Quilted by:
Jones, Arlene Kweli
Where the quilt was made, country:
United States
Time period:
2000-2025
When was the quilt finished?
2011
Quilt is presently used as:
Artwork/wall hanging
Quiltmaker's gender:
Female
Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:
African American
Does/did the quiltmaker belong to a group? Name of the group?
Women of Color Quilters Network
This is a:
Finished quilt
How wide is the quilt?
26"
How long is the quilt?
34.5"
What color is the quilt?
Beige or Tan; Black; Blue; Brown; Green; Purple; Yellow; White
What is inscribed on the quilt?
"Quilt Name: Anyone Can Fly Quilted By: Arlene Kweli Jones Size 26" x 34.5" Fabric Used: 100% commercial cotton Design Source: Adapted from City Skylines Construction: Applique, piecing, quilted on domestic sewing machine Date: September 2011 The inspiration for this quilt came from viewing a video Faith Ringgold made several years ago, and my own relationship with my mother. In the video Ms. Ringgold mentions her fondness of the George Washington Bridge and so I included The Bridge in my quilt. As a child, Ms. Ringgold had life threatening asthma attacks, but her mother told her "no one ever died from asthma." Although that statement was untrue, she believed what her mother told her. My mother repeated positive affirmations (as depicted on the cement sidewalk in my quilt) that helped to build my self-image, esteem and in essence, I believed I could fly, a recurring mantra in Ms. Ringgold's works. Anyone can break through all types of obstacles, rise, blossom and work to make their dreams come true- hence, ANYONE CAN FLY. From the song A Rose In Spanish Harlem: "It's growing in the street right up through the concrete, but soft and sweet and dreamin"" my roses are the flowers native to east and west Africa- Birds of Paradise" is typed on muslin and sewn onto the back near the bottom left side of the quilt.
Describe the quilt's layout:
Pictorial
Fiber types used to make the quilt top:
Cotton
Where did the maker find their pattern?
Original to maker
Person filling out this form is:
Quilt collector
Ownership of this quilt is:
Public- Michigan State University Museum
Quilt owner's name:
Michigan State University Museum
Quilt owner's city:
East Lansing
Quilt owner's county:
Ingham
Quilt owner's state:
Michigan (MI)
How was this quilt acquired?
Received as a gift
Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:
From the Collection of Carolyn Mazloomi
Who photographed this quilt?
Pearl Yee Wong
Copyright holder:
Michigan State University Museum, all rights reserved
Cite this Quilt
Jones, Arlene Kwel. Anyone Can Fly. 2011. From Michigan State University Museum, Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Women of Color Quilters Network; Quilts and Human Rights; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=12-8-6706. Accessed: 04/19/24