On December 5th, the Oakland City Council announced the recipients of its
Detail of Sync IV by Patricia Montgomery
2012–2013 cultural funding grants. Among the 69 nonprofit organizations and individual artists on the list is HNU alumna Patricia Montgomery. Her $4,000 grant will support her workshops in traditional African American quilting.
Montgomery, who is self-taught, has been quilting for more than 40 years. She is a member of the African American Quilting Guild of Oakland and has exhibited her work in the U.S. and internationally. From her artist statement:
It was my acceptances into the Florence, Italy Biennale that moved my quilts from traditional block to contemporary art design. The artist, Faith Ringgold inspired the creation of my “spirit” story quilts which combined the use of digital ghost like images and West African stamp fabric that honored African Americans who lived during Colonial times.
Other 2012–2013 recipients include the Bay Area Girls Rock Camp after-school program, AXIS Dance Company, and individual artists Tommy Orange and Jocelyn M. Goode. The total amount approved by the Oakland City Council for these grants is $950,001.
