First Ladies and the White House – Part 1
As we contemplate the possibility of having our first woman president in the USA, it is perhaps a time to look back on the women who have already served in the White House – the First Ladies.
Over the years I have had several connections to the White House. My best childhood friend served on the Clinton Healthcare Task Force. (They were trying to create a national healthcare system, similar to other developed nations.) During those years I did a tour of the White House, which was much more accessible at that time. My architect brother works in Washington DC and his firm did the renovation/redesign of the White House Visitor Center. (Among other notable DC addresses.) Over the years I have become a bit of a White House history nerd as well. Every time I visit DC, I stop by the front of the White House. I love visiting the Smithsonian exhibit featuring the First Ladies’ gowns, at the National Museum of American History. Then of course you have to visit the 200 year old 30′ x 34′ American flag, and other Treasures of American History.
I was invited to meet Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter in 2014. While attending a Carter Center weekend retreat, I signed up to be a Carter Center ambassador. I was so inspired by their life’s work through the Carter Center. When I was invited to make a portrait of one of my female heroes for the “HerStory” exhibit, I chose First Lady Carter. I asked her for a photo of a moment in her history, that she would like memorialized. She chose this photo, of her testifying to Congress in 1979, representing the President’s Commission on Mental Health.
Here are some of my process photos as I built this portrait:
I blew up the photo, created a line drawing, and used a lightbox to transfer the image to fabric.
I used a textile print that looked like a newspaper, to fill in the abstract shapes in the background. (Representing journalists and other audience members.)
I used a fabric print that looked like 18th century script, for the facial portrait collage, to represent that she was the face of a the role of First Lady which has a long history.
Working on this piece was a kind of meditation, and as it came to completion, I kept thinking of a hashtag that I had seen:
#CompassionIsPatriotic
I decided that this represented Mrs. Carter’s life work, and added this phrase (as a hashtag) to the top of the piece. I got in a little bit of trouble for this from the organizer, but putting text/words/messages in textile art was a rapidly growing trend at the time and I felt it was very important.
This quilt now hangs in the Mental Health department at the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
“Rosalynn Carter Explains to the Senate”
24″ x 30″
I was honored when she was included in the collage, on the cover of the companion book:
During this time I also donated this small quilt (17″ x 23″) to a Carter Center fundraiser. It was signed on the back by President Jimmy Carter. It represents the diversity of all the people and all the hands that come together to volunteer for the Carter Center.
I mention this because donating artwork is a wonderful way to help the non-profits you support, by fundraising with other donors.
In 2019 I was invited to a Carter Center event that included an overnight visit to Plains Georgia where Jimmy Carter grew up. We heard President Carter speak in the auditorium of the Plains high school, where he and Rosalynn went to school. We attended his sermon early Sunday morning at the Maranatha Baptist Church. And most wonderfully, we heard him speak about his childhood, in the home where he grew up on the farm. The high school and farm are both National Park properties now, preserved and protected for all of us.
At his boyhood home, I got this precious photo:
Last week President Jimmy Carter celebrated his 100th birthday. He says he is going to stay alive long enough to vote for the first woman president. Happy Birthday President Carter!
Watch for Part 2 of this series – The White House.
#cartercenter #jimmycarter #rosalynncarter
Share Post:
