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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (July 4, 2012)
Arts & Entertainment African Fabrics Make Cleveland Smith’s Art Pop By Helen Silvis Of The Skanner News W hen fabric artist Cleveland Smith started making quilts in 1985, it was because he thought he could make some good money. “I thought I could make three quilts a week, but I soon found that wasn’t the case,” he says laughing. “It took me a whole day to make one block. And after I made my first pieces, I did- n’t want to sell them.” More than 25 years later, Smith still makes –and sells—beautiful quilts, based on traditional square nine-patch, and triangular designs. But he also designs intricate wall hangings in colorful fabrics that seem to radiate on the wall. “Once I started doing this, I came to really love the cre- ative part,” Smith says. “Every time I design a piece, I try to do something different from anything I’ve done before.” Originally from Vicks- burg, Miss., Smith wanted to leave what he jokingly calls “South America,” to Wall Hanging try his fortune elsewhere. He came to Portland in 1962 because his aunt, Rosie Peters lived here, and found work at a paper and packag- ing company in North Port- land. Now he has retired, but his art keeps him busier than ever, he says. Fellow artist Adrienne Cruz introduced Smith to African fabrics, he says, and he began to buy scraps from local African garment mak- ers. Most of his pieces include a thin strip that surrounds the work like a colorful frame. He calls this his signature Dancers “African fabric is my favorite,” he says. “I started with traditional fabrics, but when I was introduced to African fabric it quickly became my favorite. It is so colorful. You can do a lot of things with it. It’s just more versatile than other fabrics. “You don’t have to worry about matching colors because everything works together.” He also uses plain colored Specializing in *short sales * bank owned properties * first time home buyers * investment properties * residential & commercial Torrey Nelson C: 503-381-2107 W: 503-208-3797 F: 503-536-6523 E: mrtnel@gmail.com www.dwellrealtypdx.com 5625 NE MLK Jr. Blvd. Portland, OR 97211 Page 6 The Portland Skanner July 4th, 2012 cottons, Indonesian Batik and Japanese prints. No matter whether he’s making a quilt or a wall hanging, each piece of fab- ric must be individually cut out. Sometimes he selects printed fabrics or panels to turn into centerpieces, or to cut out details, which he layers on his designs using appliqué. Most of his pieces include a thin strip that sur- rounds the work like a col- orful frame. He calls this his signature. Smith does some of his own stitching, but also works collaboratively, send- ing other pieces to an embroidery specialist, Pat Roach, to be expertly hand stitched. “See how small these stitches are. She does won- derful work,” Smith says. So how long does it take to make one of Smith’s pieces? That depends, he says, on how many projects he’s working on simultane- ously. He also prioritizes commissioned pieces, he says. “Each piece takes a long time. ‘Stars over Africa’ might have taken two or three months.” Smith’s fabric collection has grown so much over the years that he could keep on quilting now without ever having to buy another yard. It’s just a matter of waiting for the right vision and design to come along for each fabric. “My grandma, before she died, gave me some of her quilt pieces,” he said. “At one time, I almost threw them away. But then I thought she gave these to me not anyone else. So I want to recreate her pattern and take her pieces and have them hand quilted.” Smith’s quilts sell from $600 up, while his fabric wall hangings start around $150 depending on size and design. For more information on Smith’s art, call 503-252- 2632.
