Faith Ringgold (American, b. 1930) Freedom Flag Story #1: On Tuesday Morning, 2003 Lithograph on paper Gift of Dr. Lisa Farrington 2011.8
Freedom Flag Story #1: On Tuesday Morning is a response to
the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In this piece, Faith Ringgold
transforms the American flag’s red bars into multicolored
abstract patterns. These relate to her quilting knowledge and
the fabric dying processes of thangka paintings, a Tibetan
Buddhist religious artform. Ringgold used quilting and
thangka techniques throughout her career to combat “high”
painting and sculpture, artforms that previously excluded
women and did not represent African-American women. In
2011, Ringgold collaborated with New York students to create
The 9/11 Peace Story Quilt, which portrayed the necessity of
respect, communication, and understanding between cultures
and religions in order to achieve peace.