Imani W. Russell, creator of Indigo's Friends Art Dolls and Notions; a maker of objects created primarily from reclaimed fabrics, found objects, and hand stitched. She is largely self taught but credits her subconscious influence and abilities to her resourceful and creative mother, Mabel.
Indigo's Friends was created in the early nineties via the confluence of incidents and interests; including the passing of a dear friend, the fascination with a fictional character in an extraordinary novel, and the discovery of the Gullah Geechee culture of the south eastern region of the u.s.
PROCESS:
I am fascinated with the color and texture of fabrics and finds that have a past. Natural materials once used as a garment or utility often present a supple quality that lends itself to the possibility of an extended life, practically welcoming the edits of plant based dyes and the sincerity of the stitch from hand. My re-creations are often improvisational as I am lead, with pleasure, by the materials themselves. Once I’ve achieved a rhythm that reveals the soul of the piece, I weave in found objects, contrasting textures, and employ the embroidery embellishments that I am fond of.
AWARDS:
2022 - JUROR’S CHOICE AWARD. QUILTS=ARTS=QUILTS EXHIBIT. SCHWEINFURTH MEMORIAL ARTS CENTER. AUBURN, NY
RESIDENCY:
2006 - QUINTANA ROO, MEXICO. SPONSORED by the MID-ATLANTIC ARTS FOUNDATION & ARLINGTON, VA CULTURAL AFFAIRS DIV.
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE:
2018 - Present: Portico Gallery & Studios. 3807 RI Avenue, Studio#3. Brentwood, MD 20722
2009 - 2018: Gateway Artist Studios. 4303 RI Avenue, Brentwood, MD 20722
MEMBER:
DelRay Artisans, Alexandria, VA 2013 - present
Board member: DelRay Artisans - Alexandria, VA 2013 - 2015
EXHIBITS INCLUDE:
October - March 2024 “The Calling: The Transformative Power of African American Doll and Puppet Making”. Group Exhibition. City Lore Gallery. 56 E. 1st ST. NY, NY 10003. Citylore.org
February - March 2023 “THE VILLAGE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN DOLL ARTISTS“ Group Exhibition. The Frederick Douglass - Isaac Myers Museum. Fells Point, Baltimore, MD
October - January 2023 “Quilts=Art=Quilts”. Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center. Group Exhibition. Auburn, NY
February - March 2022 “UP NEXT” Two artist exhibit works demonstrating African American Storytelling in various mediums. The Art Gallery @ Greenbelt Community Center, Greenbelt, MD 20770
January - March 2022 INDIGO’S FRIENDS ART DOLLS - Featured Window Exhibit. Storytelling through an array of Up-cycled soft sculptures. Brentwood Arts Exchange, Brentwood, MD 20772.
June - November 2021 “QUILTED SKETCHES AND MORE” Group Exhibition. MiXT - 3809 RI Avenue, Brentwood, MD 20722
January - May 2021 “STITCHED ALCHEMY” Intersecting Blackness with Material Resilience. Solo Exhibition. Portico Gallery & Studios, Brentwood, MD 20722
March - May 2020 “MOVING FORWARD” Group Exhibition. Brentwood Arts Exchange. Brentwood, MD 20722
February 18, 2020 “AFRICAN AMERICAN DOLL MAKING AND PUPPETRY”. Renegotiating Identity, Restoring Community. Group Exhibition and Lecture series. Thomas Jefferson Building. Library of Congress. Washington, DC
January - March 2020 “CHRONICLES OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN JOURNEY THROUGH FIBER ARTS”. Group Exhibition. Montpelier Arts Center. Laurel, MD 20708
January - February 2019 “STITCHES” Group Exhibition. You Are Here Art Gallery. Jeanette, PA 15644
2017 Artomatic. Group Exhibition. Crystal City, VA
2017 Brentwood Arts Exchange. Group Exibition. Brentwood, MD
2016 Anacostia Arts Center. Memory Flood. Group Exhibition. Washington, DC
2016. Francine Haskins Studio. Group Exhibition. NE, Washington, DC
2015 Gallery 39 - Gateway Arts District. Group Exhibition. Brentwood, MD
2014 Arlington Central Library. Two Artist Exhibition. Arlington, VA.
2013 Gallery Serengeti. Group Exhibit. Capital Heights, MD.
2012 Morrisana Doll Society. Group Exhibit. Harlem, NYC
2012 The Graham Collection. Group Exhibition. Washington, DC
2010 The Ellipse Art Gallery. Group Exhibition. Arlington, VA
RECENT TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
2023 Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center, Auburn, NY. “Story Telling Through the Art of Cloth Doll Composition”. Workshop & Lecture
Imani W. Russell owns the rights to all creations, text, and photos posted on this site. 2006 - current. All rights are protected under the U.S. and international copyrights laws. Last update 2024