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Tignon Law, worn head wraps, scarves and bonnets  81.5 x 68 inches, 2024

 

 

Scarfs and head wraps have been used for centuries and have various meanings across cultures and religions. I was particularly interested in the role the scarf has played in the lives of African American women.

Thinking of the 1786 Tignon Law which made it illegal for women of color to show their hair in public. The law demanded women of African decent, slave or free to cover their hair and refrain from “excessive attention to dress”.

The law was imposed on women who seemed to “compete” too freely with white women and, therefore, threatened social order. However, our ancestors resisted by incorporating bright colors and patterns with creative wrapping techniques, which were later said to enhance their beauty.

The scarf has since become the Black woman's best friend in relation to their hair. From using the scarf to prevent damage from harsh sun rays while working in the fields to preserving styles for Sunday services,special occasions and everyday life. The scarf , wrap and bonnet play a major role in black hair and culture.

I was thinking of how many stories can be told in a scarf: the love made, the love lost, the laughs, the meals cooked, the styles preserved for special occasions, the moments shared, etc. A lot happens in our lives with those wraps, scarves, and bonnets on from late nights to early mornings.

I want this quilt to be a nod to that history and to the stories told and moments shared all within a scarf/wrap or bonnet.

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 DeJeonge Reese- multi-disciplinary artist

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