- Faith Ringgold Receives Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award: Inspiring Others to Greatness (click to download press release as PDF)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 10, 2011
Contact: Susan D. Klejst, Director of Development
Womanspace, Inc.
1212 Stuyvesant Ave. Trenton, NJ 08618
P -609-394-0136 F-609-396-1093
sdk@womanspace.org
Faith Ringgold Receives Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award: Inspiring Others to Greatness
Womanspace Inc. hosted its 17th annual Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award reception and fundraiser on Thursday, May 12th, at a new location – the Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village, Princeton, N.J. Friends, benefactors, patrons, sponsors, volunteers and colleagues were all buzzing with excitement about artist and author Faith Ringgold who was this year’s recipient of the prestigious award.
Barbara Boggs Sigmund was a former Mayor of Princeton Borough and a Mercer County Freeholder. She proactively spoke out about domestic violence, and was one of the co-founders of Womanspace. Each year Womanspace honors Barbara Boggs Sigmund’s spirit and passion by presenting the award to a woman who has made a significant contribution to society to improve people’s lives. Each honoree is someone who inspires others to greatness.
Faith Ringgold is best known for her painted story quilts, art that combines painting, quilted fabric and storytelling. She has exhibited in major museums in the USA, Europe, South America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. In Mercer County, N.J., her renowned work is featured with a mosaic mural from her award-winning book Tar Beach, on the third floor of the Princeton Public Library.
Ringgold is the recipient of more than 75 awards including 22 Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts Degrees. She has received fellowships and grants that include the National Endowment For the Arts Award for sculpture (1978) and for painting (1989); The La Napoule Foundation Award for painting in France (1990); The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship for painting (1987); The New York Foundation For the Arts Award for painting (1988); The American Association of University Women for travel to Africa (1976); The Creative Artists Public Service Award for painting (1971).
The evening began with opening remarks from Womanspace Board President, Cynthia Ricker, and a short film presentation featuring women who have survived domestic abuse. Each of the women praised Womanspace and said they could not have survived without the organization’s services.
Next event chairs, Jigna Rao and Ingrid Reed, thanked everyone for coming and supporting Womanspace. Honorary chair, Cokie Roberts, who is an ABC News political commentator and sister of Barbara Boggs Sigmund could not attend the event, but wrote a special tribute to Ringgold which was shared by Ingrid Reed. “I wish that we didn’t need a place for women and children to find refuge from abusers, but as my sister Barbara well knew, that day is unlikely to ever come, and so Womanspace will be a vital resource in the community into the future,” said Roberts.
First grade teacher Ivey Avery attended the event. The first grade teachers at Christopher Columbus Elementary school in Trenton use the literature of Faith Ringgold in their reading curriculum. “We find that her books excite children and make reading an adventure. We have read Tar Beach, The Invisible Princess, Cassie’s Word Quilt and Aunt Harriet’s Underground Railroad in the Sky. After reading each book the children are given a specific activity or project to complete,” said Avery. “We so love the work of Mrs. Ringgold that the students created cards and letters for her. We put them in a large sunflower box along with a few other small gifts and sent them to her. In return she brought 5 autographed books and other gifts for the students to the Womanspace banquet. She is a special lady.”
The salute and award presentation to Faith Ringgold began with an introduction of Ringgold’s life and career by Judith K. Brodsky and Dr. Ferris Olin. The two are co-founders of the Rutgers Institute for Women and Art, and have worked together for many decades featuring the work of women and artists of underrepresented populations. In 2009 they organized a 50 year retrospective of Ringgold’s work at Rutgers University. “Faith has made art about experiences that are related to those of the women and children that Womanspace helps,” said Brodsky and Olin. “To her optimism, persistence, her belief in herself and her art, as well as her commitment to the good of her family. She has made contributions to help the rest of us live our lives in better ways. She is a model for the women that Womanspace assist and to women at all levels of their personal lives and public histories.”
After receiving her award Faith Ringgold delighted the audience with a screen presentation of her artwork. “Through my art I have tried to share the experience of what it is like to be an African American Woman in America,” said Ringgold. “As an artist I can do what I want, I can say what I want, of course people can decide not to look at it, but they can’t stop me from doing it because we have a thing called freedom of speech, which is the best thing about America.”
Ringgold went on to talk about her struggle to have her work shown in New York during the 1960s, but Ringgold who is now 80-years-old, added that “if you live long enough all of your dreams can come true!”
“Now doors just seem to open without my demonstrating or anything else,” she added.
Ringgold said the most challenging art series she’s ever done is titled the Declaration of Freedom and Independence. The compositions contrast the exalted terms of the seminal American document with the lurid facts of slavery. “My intention in these illustrations is to tell the story of the forefather’s declaration of independence from the British, along with the African-American struggle for freedom and equality, ” said Ringgold. When she created the series Ringgold stated, “These illustrations are dedicated to the American people, who in 2008 elected our first black president, Barack Obama, to be the 44th president of the United States.”
In addition to showing her artwork during the reception, Ringgold also demonstrated her generosity by donating two prints for Womanspace to auction at the event. One print celebrated Oprah Winfrey’s 25 years of hosting a talk show, and the other print featured children who had survived the recent earthquake in Haiti.
The top sponsors of the event were 94.5 WPST; Compass Healthcare Marketers; Bloomberg; Drinker, Biddle & Wreath; New Jersey Manufacturers; Payment Management; and PSE&G. Table Favors were provided courtesy of Wegmans and Johnson & Johnson.
Womanspace provides programs for families struggling with domestic violence and sexual assault. Over 10,000 adults and children were served last year. Programs include crisis intervention, emergency shelter, counseling, court advocacy, housing services, and a 24-hour hotline: (609) 394-9000.
For more information about Womanspace or the annual BBS Award, please visit online: www.womanspace.org or contact Susan D. Klejst, director of development by phone (609) 394-0136 or by email: sdk@womanspace.org .
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1. Womanspace_17thBBSAward_Honors_FaithRinggold.jpg –
Thank you to everyone who supported Womanspace 17th annual Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award (BBS) event honoring Faith Ringgold, acclaimed Artist and Writer. In Photo: Celebrating with Faith Ringgold (center holding the signature Boehm Porcelain BBS Award Rose) are (left to right) Event Chairs Jigna Rao and Ingrid Reed, Board President Cynthia Ricker, Ms. Ringgold, Executive Director Patricia Hart, and Professor Paul Sigmund, husband of our late Founder and event namesake.
Ivey Avery, Trenton teacher, asks Faith Ringgold to sign a quilt made by her friend Gail Anne Mitchell, another local teacher, in tribute to Ms. Ringgold’s books, which both teachers use in their classrooms.
3. Womanspace2011_BBS_RaffleWinner.jpg –
And the WINNER IS…
The lucky winner of the luxurious all-inclusive Winners Choice Trip for Two to Cancun OR Punta Cana is, Karen Parrow! The Grand Prize Raffle held during the annual Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award is a coveted prize valued at $3,500 and is generously sponsored by Radio Station 94.5 WPST and provided through Apple Vacations. Awarding this year’s winning vacation prize from Nassau Broadcasting is (center right) Lydia Rios, VP and General Sales Manager (center left) and winning ticket holder Karen Parrow. Representing Womanspace are (left to right) Director of Development Susan D. Klejst, Board President Cynthia Ricker, Karen Parrow, Lydia Rios, and BBS Award Event Chairs Ingrid Reed and Jigna Rao.
Other Event Photos
Ad Journal
Now you can download the full 64-page 2011 Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award program journal and insert page distributed at the event.
You can also view our event poster.
Event Sponsors
Many thanks to our corporate sponsors!
