Culture Quilt
Shallah Rocks
As a native of Greensboro, NC, Schala's approach to art is influenced by the city's rich history within the national civil rights movement. Its impact can be observed in her "Say It Loud" street mural located on Lindsay Street in Greensboro, as well as the local "Black Lives Matter" exhibition. She is inspired by her mother, aunt and late grandfather who have created using many forms of mixed media. Her love for people and nature makes her passionate about creating functional art. Her work can be found in rock displays at Castle Hayne Elementary School in Wilmington, NC, Washington Montessori Elementary School,and multiple homes even as far as London, Jamaica, and Rome. Schala resides in Wilmington with her husband Ken and two children, Caleb, Saydee and their wonderful dog Major. Shala stated, “Art has always been a passion of mine. Every summer, my Grandma would have a special craft set up during my visit. We would draw with pastels, paint with acrylics, and make stuffed animals. I was a jack of all trades. To this day, I still love creating. I think it is important to use someone’s gift to make the world a better place. I like to use my art to spread a message or emotion that is meaningful. I like to make people think. Make people see something in a different light that maybe they didn’t see before. I think it is important to empower each other and show love for each other. It is important to speak up, stand up, educate ourselves and take action.”
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Schala describes her “Say It Loud” quilt painting of Black culture in detail.
1. The clapperboard represents my culture in full. 5 plus 3 plus 1 equals nine.Galatians 5:22-23 has 9 fruits of the spirit ( love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self- control)
2. Adinkra symbol from Ghanaian culture called the Duafe (the comb) represents our beauty, femininity, love, care, good hygiene and being well groomed, also shows our adornment for our natural coils and tresses.
3. Eye of Horus ancient hieroglyphic Egyptian symbol of protection, restoration, royal power, and good health.
4. I love HBCUs ... historic black colleges and universities.. specifically NCA&T, my alumni founded in 1891 originally named Agricultural and Mechanical College as a result of the Second Morrill Act, in 1890 when Congress mandated separate colleges for the "colored race".
5. The tape deck...honoring hip hop the 80s 90s and so on..our poetic sound..we are "lyrical lyricist flowing lyrics out my larynx" (-Notorious B.I.G Smalls)..its the love of beats, rhyme and birth to hip hop and spoken word
6. The sun..a powerful source of energy that shows all of the beautiful variations of our cultures color and complexion...our melanin provides pigmentation to our hair, skin and eyes, it helps to protect us from harmful UV rays yet it gives such great energy by boosting serotonin in our brains for increased energy.
7. The Divine 9. Historically black Greek Letter Organization (BGLOs) that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council. These colors blended into each other represent the brother and sisterhood of the fraternities and sororities as they all provide support and love for each other, their communities, universities and people as a whole.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity.
8. The dancer. We tell stories through dance, we create steps that are copied all over the world, have a natural rhythm and movement, each angle wordlessly tells our history, captivates and touches every single emotion.
9. An Adinkra symbol/Ghanian symbolizes the power of love. My husband and I got this one anniversary to represent that love never fails. It reads "ODO NNYEW FIE KWAN" meaning those who lead by love will never lose their way...therefore we should Do everything in love. #spreadlove
10. The Ankh. Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic symbol symbolizing the key of life or the key of the Nile—its representative of eternal life in Ancient Egypt. It's shape is of a woman's fallopian tubes and womb/ reproduction system ..bearer of all...giver of life 180 plus 180 = 360 degrees...completion, life
11. Sankofa Heart...another Adinkra/Ghanaian symbol...means to retrieve, to go back and get, seek, take or go back and get it...what you've lost. The symbol is either a stylized heart or more commonly a bird with its head turned backwards.
12. VOTE.. removing the idea of the electoral college, gentrification, racial profiling, civility, equality, equity...making laws that protect us!
13. The Crown...The Woman King..We are Kings and Queens, Royal, Natural born Leaders ..our crowns are full of knowledge, life, wisdom and rich in history...we must protect our roots, become unified, remove the idea of being bound by our oppressors by repeating the oppressors mentality towards our people, have honor, respect and a free mind.
14. Faith. Our Hope, Love, Trust and Faith comes from God. Our faith speaks the language of the heart and expresses hope beyond our conscious mind. Faith is to believe in yourself and allow God to work through you. "Walk by faith, not sight"
15. Cheetah print is a sign of speed, agility, keen insight and a sense of freedom and an undomesticated spirit open to infinite possibilities.
16. Our DNA is royal, loyal, colorful, loving, unbreakable and undeniable. The original bearer of life, The Eve Gene
17. The Black family circle is not broken, not uneducated, not to be pushed to the side, is equally powerful and is strong.
(Tap the Image to take a better look!)
