Rachel Clark

Rachel Clark

2019oh0560_qsosiqf0044
QSOS_050

Clark discusses her career in crafting quilted clothing. She notes her early experiences with quilting, as well as her transition from producing bed quilts to working with quilted clothing. She talks about how she uses her quilted clothing to comment on contemporary social or political questions, as well as discuss some of the quilters and works she admires most.

audio

Quilts.

Quilting.

African American folk art.

Quilts--Design.

African American quilts.

Quilting arts workshop

Quilts--United States--History--20th century.

Quilting--United States--Patterns.

Rachel Clark

Amy Henderson

Becky Goldsmith

5.2 2019oh0560_qsosiqf0044 Interview with Rachel Clark, December 30, 1999 2019oh0560_qsosiqf0044 34:15 qsosiqf Quilt Alliance’s Quilters' S.O.S.- Save Our Stories Oral History Project: International Quilt Festival Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries Quilts. Quilting. African American folk art. Quilts--Design. African American quilts. Quilting arts workshop Quilts--United States--History--20th century. Quilting--United States--Patterns. Rachel Clark Folk artists Quilted clothing Rachel Clark Amy Henderson 2019oh0560_qsosiqf0044_clark_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2019oh0560_qsosiqf0044_clark_acc001.mp3 Other NULL audio 0 Description of the quilt she brought for the interview My name is Amy Henderson. Clark describes the quilt that she brought, noting its use of purple and yellow. She discusses how she does not focus on quilting itself so much as using quilting techniques to make clothing. She also addresses the lack of clear community and background influence in her quilts. She notes how she loves colors and has been working with different varieties of beige. Amy Henderson ; Background ; Beige ; Colors ; Community ; Fabric dyes ; Purples ; Quilt blocks ; Quilted clothing ; Quilting techniques ; Quilts ; Rachel Clark ; Uneven templates ; Yellows African American folk art. ; African American quilts. ; Quilting arts workshop ; Quilting--United States--Patterns. ; Quilting. ; Quilts--Design. ; Quilts--United States--History--20th century. ; Quilts. 17 http://www.rdkc.com/ Rachel Clark's personal website 145 Favorite colors / Audience for quilted clothing Do you have any particular favorites in color or do you go through shifts? Clark discusses her favorite colors. She notes that blue is her favorite color of all time, while she likes to use yellow as an accent color. She also discusses her recent interest in using chartreuse, as well as what she termed &quot ; weird greens.&quot ; Clark notes that she makes her clothes to be enjoyed by herself, as well as for creative people who like to dress up and use clothing as part of their personality. &quot ; Weird greens&quot ; ; Accent colors ; Amy Henderson ; Audience ; Blue ; Chartreuse ; Colors ; Favorite colors ; Quilted clothing ; Rachel Clark ; Yellow African American folk art. ; African American quilts. ; Quilting arts workshop ; Quilting--United States--Patterns. ; Quilting. ; Quilts--Design. ; Quilts--United States--History--20th century. ; Quilts. 17 226 Political and social commentary with clothing Um, because a quilted clothing, a vest or a jacket, leaves the house and walks down the street, do you think you're trying to communicate a message or an idea through your clothes? While Clark says that she often makes her quilted clothing for her own personal enjoyment, she notes that she often uses the medium as a way to voice her views on political and social situations. She frequently addresses themes of being an African American in American society, as well as racial inequality. She lists some of her most noteworthy works that deal with the question of race in America. &quot ; Dancing Alone&quot ; ; &quot ; Scar&quot ; ; &quot ; Strange Fruit&quot ; ; Amy Henderson ; Black in America ; Commentary ; Political statements ; Quilted clothing ; Race ; Rachel Clark ; Scars of slavery ; Social statements African American folk art. ; African American quilts. ; Quilting arts workshop ; Quilting--United States--Patterns. ; Quilting. ; Quilts--Design. ; Quilts--United States--History--20th century. ; Quilts. 17 451 Earliest quilt memory Tell me about your earliest quilt memory. Clark describes her first memory with quilting. She discusses how her grandmother used to be a quilter and that Clark would play under her quilt frames as a child. Clark notes that she never officially learned to quilt from her family, but had it around her her entire life. In contrast, she can distinctly remember producing her first dress for a doll. She discusses how all of the women in her family were involved in some sort of sewing or quilting. Amy Henderson ; Doll dresses ; Education ; Family sewing ; Grandmothers ; Learning ; Memories ; Quilt frames ; Quilt memories ; Rachel Clark ; Sewing African American folk art. ; African American quilts. ; Quilting arts workshop ; Quilting--United States--Patterns. ; Quilting. ; Quilts--Design. ; Quilts--United States--History--20th century. ; Quilts. 17 569 First making quilted clothing When did you switch, um, or start making quilted clothing as opposed to bed quilts? Clark discusses her first foray into producing quilted clothing. She talks about how she used to teach beginner quilting classes, and had been making table quilts in lieu of bed quilts. However, she connects this with her interest in adding collars and undercollars to her clothing in high school, which spurred her transition to quilted clothing. She notes that this occurred in the middle to the end of the 1980s. 1980s ; Amy Henderson ; Collars ; Quilted clothing ; Quiltmaking ; Rachel Clark ; Undercollars African American folk art. ; African American quilts. ; Quilting arts workshop ; Quilting--United States--Patterns. ; Quilting. ; Quilts--Design. ; Quilts--United States--History--20th century. ; Quilts. 17 670 Teaching quiltmaking When did you start teaching quiltmaking? Clark discusses teaching quiltmaking in the late 1970s and through the 1980s. She talks about taking beginner quilting classes, and beginning to teach those same classes. Eventually, she started teaching classes on clothing production and clothing as art. She ends the segment by admitting that every few years she reassesses her life goals and what she wants to pursue as a part of her career. 1970s ; Amy Henderson ; Beginner quilting classes ; Career reassessments ; Quilted clothing ; Quilting classes ; Quiltmaking ; Rachel Clark African American folk art. ; African American quilts. ; Quilting arts workshop ; Quilting--United States--Patterns. ; Quilting. ; Quilts--Design. ; Quilts--United States--History--20th century. ; Quilts. 17 832 Quilting among close family members and friends Do any of your close family members or friends quilt? Clark discusses how her family and friends were involved with quilting, with Clark emphasizing the role older family members played in quilting. She notes the role of her aunt on inspiring her to be a quilter, over any other figure in her life. She admits that none of her siblings sew, and her cousin only does it sparingly. Clark talks about how she has sewing friends and quilting circles that she is a part of. Amy Henderson ; Close family members ; Family quilting ; Friends ; Older generations ; Quilting ; Quilting groups ; Rachel Clark ; Sewing ; Sewing friends African American folk art. ; African American quilts. ; Quilting arts workshop ; Quilting--United States--Patterns. ; Quilting. ; Quilts--Design. ; Quilts--United States--History--20th century. ; Quilts. 17 900 Inspirations from other quiltmakers Have there ever been, uh, any particular artists or other quiltmakers that have influenced your work? Though asked about direct influences on her quilting, Clark redirects the question to be about quilters she admires. She admits that she tries not to allow clothing styles to influence her too directly to maintain her own originality. However, she lists Ruth McDowell and Nancy Crow as two people whose work she admires very much. She also notes that she really admires quilters who pursue traditional quilting styles and keep those traditions and styles alive in the modern day. Amy Henderson ; Influences ; Inspirations ; Nine patches ; Patches ; Quilted clothing ; Quilting inspirations ; Rachel Clark ; Scrap quilts ; Self-defined work African American folk art. ; African American quilts. ; Crow, Nancy, 1943- ; McDowell, Ruth B., 1945- ; Newman, Velda, 1939- ; Quilting arts workshop ; Quilting--United States--Patterns. ; Quilting. ; Quilts--Design. ; Quilts--United States--History--20th century. ; Quilts. 17 1056 How Clark defines herself as an artist Do you see yourself as a quiltmaker or a fashion designer or an artist or a crafts-person? When asked about how she identifies herself as an artist, Clark admits that she is hesitant to call herself a designer or an artist, considering those terms too grandiose. Rather, she describes herself as a folk artist in that she takes two traditional crafts and combines them together to reflect her own voice. Amy Henderson ; Clothing ; Crafts ; Fashion designing ; Folk artists ; Quilted clothing ; Quilting ; Rachel Clark ; self-definition African American folk art. ; African American quilts. ; Quilting arts workshop ; Quilting--United States--Patterns. ; Quilting. ; Quilts--Design. ; Quilts--United States--History--20th century. ; Quilts. 17 1140 Quilting at home / Sewing in daily life Where do you quilt in your home? Clark discusses how she quilts in her own home, noting that she quilts both at home and at her studio. She talks about how she prefers to quilt in her own home if it is hand work, but will turn to her studio should she need to work with machines. Clark also answers a question about how often she is able to sew in her daily life. She answers that her goal is to do some project every day. Amy Henderson ; Daily life ; Hand quilting ; Home studio ; Household quilting ; Quilting ; Rachel Clark ; Sewing African American folk art. ; African American quilts. ; Quilting arts workshop ; Quilting--United States--Patterns. ; Quilting. ; Quilts--Design. ; Quilts--United States--History--20th century. ; Quilts. 17 1216 Future quilting plans Now, as you're going to take next year and evaluate your, your future career, um, where do you see your quiltmaking evolving or developing in the next few years? Clark discusses her future quilted clothing plans. She discusses how she has two projects she is beginning. One involves her basing her clothing off of traditional quilting work, while the other is based around using fabrics from the same color palette. She notes that both of these plans would be series of coats. &quot ; Out of a Crayon Box&quot ; ; &quot ; Quilts out of body&quot ; ; Amy Henderson ; Career reassessment ; Colors ; Fabrics ; Future plans ; Quilted clothing ; Quilted coats ; Quilting plans ; Rachel Clark ; Traditional quilting African American folk art. ; African American quilts. ; Quilting arts workshop ; Quilting--United States--Patterns. ; Quilting. ; Quilts--Design. ; Quilts--United States--History--20th century. ; Quilts. 17 1312 Connection with quiltmakers of the past Do you have--do you get any kind of bond with either women in the past or contemporary women who are quiltmakers through your quiltmaking? Clark discusses the connection she feels with other quilters, which she describes as being part of a continuum or a continuity with the past. She notes that she feels admiration for quilters who did not have the luxury of modern technology in terms of quiltmaking. She admits that she often appreciates eighteenth and nineteenth century quilts over other twentieth century work. 18th century quilts ; 19th century quilts ; Amy Henderson ; Bonds ; Connections ; Continuity ; Continuum ; Quilted clothing ; Quilters ; Quilting technology ; Rachel Clark ; Traditional quilting African American folk art. ; African American quilts. ; Quilting arts workshop ; Quilting--United States--Patterns. ; Quilting. ; Quilts--Design. ; Quilts--United States--History--20th century. ; Quilts. 17 1507 Enjoyment of planning quilts What do you like most about quilting? When asked about her favorite aspects of quilting, Clark answers that she likes organizing and planning quilts the best. She discusses how she would like to be able to plan a quilt and have someone else do the actual sewing for her. She is more pleased by the steps involved in producing clothing, but still dislikes sewing the side seams and the sleeves. Amy Henderson ; Enjoyment ; Organizing ; Pulling fabric ; Quilt designing ; Quilt planning ; Quilted clothing ; Rachel Clark ; Sewing ; Side-seams ; Sleeves African American folk art. ; African American quilts. ; Quilting arts workshop ; Quilting--United States--Patterns. ; Quilting. ; Quilts--Design. ; Quilts--United States--History--20th century. ; Quilts. 17 1576 Great quilt design properties What do you think makes a great quilt design? Clark discusses what makes a good quilt design in her opinion. She notes how she prefers not to use overly technical language but rather appreciate quilts from her &quot ; gut&quot ; or her &quot ; heart.&quot ; She lists Ruth McDowell and Velda Newman as quilters whose style she is impressed with. She also notes her appreciation once again with quilts from the past. Clark notes that she appreciates the technical proficiency of Japanese quilts, but has qualms with them. 18th century quilts ; 19th century quilts ; Amy Henderson ; Great quilt designs ; Japanese quilts ; Quilt designs ; Quilt shows ; Quilted clothing ; Rachel Clark ; Traditional quilts African American folk art. ; African American quilts. ; Crow, Nancy, 1943- ; McDowell, Ruth B., 1945- ; Newman, Velda, 1939- ; Quilting arts workshop ; Quilting--United States--Patterns. ; Quilting. ; Quilts--Design. ; Quilts--United States--History--20th century. ; Quilts. 17 1778 Philosophy of quilt preservation Do you think quilts should be preserved for the future? When asked about her opinion on quilt preservation, Clark admits that in her mind quilts are made to be used. She acknowledges that some need to be saved for historical continuity, but that not every quilt is history-worthy and needs to be preserved. Amy Henderson ; Baltimore album quilts ; Family quilts ; Historical quilts ; Preservation ; Preservationists ; Quilt preservation ; Quilted clothing ; Rachel Clark African American folk art. ; African American quilts. ; Quilting arts workshop ; Quilting--United States--Patterns. ; Quilting. ; Quilts--Design. ; Quilts--United States--History--20th century. ; Quilts. 17 1874 Advice for future quiltmakers Do you have any tips for future quiltmakers? Clark offers advice for future quiltmakers, at first telling them to do what they wish to do in terms of quilting. However, she adds that quilters should be knowledgeable about the technical abilities of the craft. She lists various beginner techniques that she sees as key for a quilter to know before branching out on their own. She recommends taking beginner or basic quilting classes. She also tells quilters to know their history and know about the quilters that came before them. Advice ; Amy Henderson ; Basic quilting classes ; Beginner quilting classes ; Calculations ; Future quiltmakers ; Measuring ; Quilt books ; Quilt crafting ; Quilt drafting ; Quilted clothing ; Quiltmakers ; Rachel Clark ; Simply blocks African American folk art. ; African American quilts. ; Quilting arts workshop ; Quilting--United States--Patterns. ; Quilting. ; Quilts--Design. ; Quilts--United States--History--20th century. ; Quilts. 17 interview Clark discusses her career in crafting quilted clothing. She notes her early experiences with quilting, as well as her transition from producing bed quilts to working with quilted clothing. She talks about how she uses her quilted clothing to comment on contemporary social or political questions, as well as discuss some of the quilters and works she admires most. No transcript. All rights to the Quilters' S.O.S. -- Save Our Stories (QSOS) oral history project, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred from the Quilt Alliance to the University of Kentucky Libraries. Please contact the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History regarding rights pertaining to individual interviews. audio Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2019oh0560_qsosiqf0044_clark_ohm.xml 2019oh0560_qsosiqf0044_clark_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7qz8d1bd0z2

Rachel Clark

Folk artists

Quilted clothing