Kianga Jianki’s Visual Storytelling Brings Fabric Art To Life. Meet This Vibrant Artist At The Broward Quilt Expo October 23- 24
Kianga Jinaki is a visual storyteller. Her multi-dimensional work reflects her life and African cultural traditions learned through travel and personal study. She creates her own textiles using African cloth by painting, stamping, dying, or sun printing. Over 50% of her work is done by hand. Kianga will be a vendor at the upcoming Broward Quilt Expo Marketplace on October 23 – 24. The Rickie Report shares the details and some sneak peeks of Kianga’s creations! Kianga also offers classes and workshops in the area.
601 City Center Way Pembroke Pines, FL 33025
954.392.9480
Kianga Jinaki’s multi-dimensional fabric art reflects her life and African cultural traditions she learned through travel and personal study. She tells The Rickie Report, “Textiles come with their own stories. I am adding my own voice. I speak with cloth”.
LIFE IS IN THE STITCHING
Kianga shares, “I enjoy creating my own textiles by painting, stamping, dying or sun printing fabric. More than 50% of the sewing, embellishing, and appliqué seen in my work is done by hand”.
“Because so much of my process is self-taught my work has a ‘folk art’ feel to it. I love adding texture and embellishments to create more dimension. Writing prayers and affirmations on cloth or paper, then binding them with thread or wire to a piece adds an element of spirit. My work draws on the folklore, music, poetry, history, spirituality and essence of African people”.
A MOMENT IN JAZZ
“A Moment in Jazz” by Kianga Jinaki
“Born and raised in Baltimore, MD, I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s immersed in the cultural and civil rights movement of the time. My years of reading the works of Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and other cultural icons, gave me an appreciation for my culture and desire to express it through my art”.
Mini Textile portrait by Kianga Jinaki
“Quilting is a medium with which I continue to grow and explore as I incorporate new methods of storytelling techniques. I create art quilts, dolls, and mixed media works that tell the story of my heritage as an African-American. My work includes historic and cultural traditions from both America and Africa. Traditional and contemporary African textiles are used in my work. I see my work as contemporary folk art.
Kianga offers a wide variety of quilts, wearable art, and embellishments
“My quilts can address many issues, from violence against Black people in this country, to reminiscing about the 70’s, or represent Mami Wata an African Goddess, that appears in Dogon cosmology as the mother of creation”.
“Adowa Returns” by Kianga Jinaki
“As a child I created collages and my greatest influence was Romare Bearden. When I began to create dolls in the early 90’s I saw them as another form of collage/assemblage. A few years after I began to create dolls I was exposed to the work of quilter Faith Ringgold. It was her work that enabled me to see quilting as a viable medium to tell the stories of my heart”.
Cowry Shells for embellishment
“I chose this medium because of my love for African textiles. Years prior to my art career I made my own clothing using Africa textiles. I love the versatility of these textiles, most of them made from cotton, which is easily manipulated, dyed, embellished, sewn, and painted upon. I’m very comfortable telling my stories through cloth”.
Recently, Kianga received The Curators Award for my work in the Exhibition Contemporary Fiber of Florida 2019 at FloridaCraft Art Gallery; Honorable Mention for her art quilt category Juried exhibition at the Broward Quilt Expo 2019 in Ft Lauderdale; An six month exhibition of her work in “Soul Utterings: Creative Works by Kianga Jinaki and John Mascoll”, at Hannibal Square Heritage Center in Winter Park.
Wearable art by Kianga
For more information about Kianga’s fabric creations, classes, or workshops:
kiangaart.com
https://www.instagram.com/kianga_art/
www.facebook.com/KiangaArt/
Email: Info@kiangaart.com
(561) 503-9504
Monday – Friday: 9 am – 5 pm Saturday: 10 am – 3 pm
Sunday: Closed
For more information:
For coverage of your events, to place an advertisement, or speak to Rickie about appearing in The Rickie Report, contact:
Rickie Leiter, Publisher
Rickie@therickiereport.com 561-537-0291
17019 SW Sapri Way Port St. Lucie, FL 34986