Interview with Kim Taylor, author of A Flag for Juneteenth

In A Flag for Juneteenth, Kim Taylor tells the story of Huldah, a Black lady who lives with her enslaved household on a plantation in Texas. It’s June 1865, and tomorrow is Huldah’s tenth birthday—however it’s additionally the day that Huldah will witness the historic studying of the proclamation that President Abraham Lincoln has freed all enslaved folks. A self-taught textile artist, Taylor’s illustrations for the guide are exquisitely detailed quilts that fill the story with a spirit of pleasure and freedom.

Tell us about Huldah and what’s occurring in her life in the beginning of your guide.
Huldah is a mature, curious, insightful little lady. She has the very grown-up accountability of caring for her child sister whereas her mother and father work on the plantation. We meet Huldah the day earlier than her tenth birthday, which falls on a Sunday. Sundays throughout this time have been a day for relaxation and reconnecting with household and neighborhood. Huldah’s mother baked Huldah’s favourite, tea muffins, for her upcoming birthday, a luxurious she might not have had time for throughout the week.

What did you analysis to put in writing this guide?
I devoured all the things I might examine Juneteenth, however that was solely the start! I used to be interested by what life was like for enslaved folks once they weren’t working and the way they related with their fast and prolonged households. I used to be very enthusiastic about understanding how they constructed a way of neighborhood regardless of such oppressive circumstances. 

I Googled, listened to podcasts and browse books about that point. I additionally checked out photos of enslaved folks, which helped me to think about their personalities and lives. One image of a little bit lady that I discovered on the Library of Congress web site appeared to embody the spirit of my Huldah, and I saved her picture in thoughts as I developed the character.

Many of the characters’ names within the story are symbolic. Will you inform us about some of these names and what they signify?
I wished my predominant character’s title to be uncommon, a reputation that may be new to my readers. I envisioned this character to be a prophet, one who might bear witness to the announcement of the tip of slavery as a authorized establishment and will additionally foretell of a future free of bondage. I Googled biblical feminine prophets and a picture of a ravishing Black girl appeared on my display. Her title was Huldah. As quickly as I noticed her, I knew that this could be the title of my predominant character. 

Eve, the title of Huldah’s child sister, can be biblical. It is derived from a Hebrew phrase that means “to breathe” or “to live.” In my story, Eve is an toddler. She can have the chance to dwell her life with out the authorized burden of enslavement. 

One different character in my story has a reputation. Mr. Menard is the oldest man on the plantation. He has the final title of Michel B. Menard, the founder of Galveston, Texas, the place my story takes place. I assumed that it was vital to show that enslaved folks have been usually given the final names of their enslavers to erase any connection to their very own household lineage.  

You’ve mentioned that every of your quilts feels as if it’s created “through [you], rather than by [you]” and that you just really feel a “deep connection with [your] ancestors during the creative process.” What was the journey of penning this guide and creating its quilted illustrations like for you?
I felt that I used to be being guided in a roundabout way whereas writing and creating the illustrations for this guide. I saved the images that I found throughout my analysis and checked out them usually when writing, making an attempt to attach in a roundabout way. 

I fell in love with Huldah very early on. Because the folks on this guide haven’t any faces, I had to determine how you can give Huldah depth and to showcase her character in different methods. I additionally wanted to make her constant and recognizable in each illustration. That is not any simple job when working with material on such a small scale! I keep in mind telling a buddy that I felt as if Huldah had develop into like a daughter to me. I felt a deep connection to her character. 

The illustrations took a little bit over a 12 months to create. It was an unlimited enterprise and really emotional. When I used to be completed with all of the illustrations, I used to be amazed that I had really achieved it! I don’t assume that I might have achieved it if I didn’t know on some degree that my ancestors have been watching over me and guiding me all through this journey.

Tell us about your quilting journey and the way you started to make story quilts.
When I used to be younger, I beloved to paint, paint and lose myself in arts and crafts tasks. I favored to make garments for my dolls utilizing my mom’s scarves. When I used to be about 8 or 9 years previous, I found my mom’s Singer stitching machine, and I wished to be taught to make use of it. My mother didn’t sew however inspired me to attempt it out. I taught myself how you can work it and started making an attempt to make garments for my dolls. Throughout my childhood, I used artwork as a automobile to chill out or to create one thing that I wanted, corresponding to pillows or easy work for a brand new house. 

It wasn’t till I found story quilting that I started to make use of artwork as a automobile to course of deep emotion. When Barack Obama was elected to be our forty fourth president, I had emotions that I discovered troublesome to verbally specific. I wished to create one thing to mark the historic occasion however felt it vital to make use of an artwork kind that had some connection to my ancestors. I thought of my West African ancestors and the way ladies there are grasp weavers and textile artists. I thought of enslaved African and African American ladies and the way they used quilting not solely to maintain their households heat but additionally to inform tales about household recollections and ancestral historical past. I made a decision to attempt my hand at this artwork kind and fell in love instantly. 

How has your creative course of modified or advanced because you started quilting?
At the start of my journey, I apprehensive about making errors however shortly got here to the conclusion that artwork quilting could be very forgiving. Many issues that I noticed as errors enhanced my items and made them extra visually attention-grabbing. 

I made a decision early on that I’d educate myself one thing new for every quilt. I researched methods on-line and acquired many books about artwork quilting to assist me to be taught the fundamentals. I’ve develop into a greater artist through the years as a result of of this resolution. I’m extra aware now about material shade and texture and the way they work collectively to set the temper of a bit. It’s all been trial and error although. I didn’t go to artwork college, so it’s been a wondrous studying journey!

What is your favourite half of the method of making a quilt?
I like exploring completely different colours and texture combos when I’m simply starting a brand new quilt. There are so many alternative prospects! There is not any have to decide to something in that early strategy planning stage as a result of nothing is sewn down but. I’m free to maneuver materials round and uncover what feels proper for that distinctive piece.

I’d love to listen to about the way you composed these illustrations. How did you select the materials? Do any of them have particular significance?
When planning the illustrations, I attempted to maintain the textual content in thoughts and made choices about what points wanted to be enhanced. For instance, the primary web page describes tea muffins, a conventional cookie that enslaved folks made utilizing easy pantry substances. I assumed it was vital to assist readers visualize a tea cake, so I got down to create them utilizing one of the brown materials from my stash that had some shade variations. Tea muffins weren’t fancy, however they have been scrumptious and smelled superb, so I used hand-embroidered lettering to indicate the motion of the scent wafting via the air. Embroidery was the brand new factor I taught myself for this undertaking. 

I selected materials that I felt would have matched the interval. Nothing flashy or too trendy. I did need to depict a distinction in how my characters have been dressed earlier than and after the announcement about freedom. Some of the clothes was impressed by my love of African material and kinds. 

What is your favourite illustration within the guide?
I like all of them for one motive or one other, however my favourite is the illustration of Huldah excessive up in her favourite tree, catching a sunbeam. It is such a visually beautiful illustration. I like how large the solar is compared to Huldah. She bravely faces the solar head-on, taking some of its power and knowledge again house with her in her little jar. In my creativeness, the solar represents life and freedom, and that jar is her coronary heart. I fell in love with nature at a really younger age, tenting each summer time in New York’s Bear Mountain and the Catskills. Nature all the time felt so large to me, but I used to be by no means overwhelmed by it. Instead, I all the time felt at house and peaceable, identical to Huldah.

What facet of A Flag for Juneteenth are you most proud of?
I’m very proud to inform the story of Juneteenth in a approach that I hope will encourage youngsters to need to be taught extra about this historic occasion. I felt it was crucial to focus on the wonder and resilience of African and African American folks throughout their enslavement, in addition to to showcase the significance of sturdy household and neighborhood ties. I’m additionally extremely proud to have illustrated this guide with an artwork kind that was utilized by my ancestors to inform their very own tales.

Photo of Kim Taylor courtesy of Erskine Isaac for Ivisionphoto.