For over four decades, Jereann King Johnson has woven various fabrics with intricate details into her quilted works to share stories and traditions with the world.

Now, her own life story is being told in an upcoming documentary.

The Resource Center for Women and Ministry and the Black Feminist Film School are producing, “Not I, But OUR: Jereann King Johnson, a Life of Art, Activism, and Community Building,” (working title) a documentary film that will tell the story of the life and work of African American quilter, educator, and community organizer Jereann King Johnson.

A long-time Warren County resident, Johnson pieces together people, organizations, and resources into racial and social justice. For Johnson, quilting is a dynamic metaphor for living, community development, and creative expression; quilting involves putting together often-discarded pieces to make something new.

Using archival footage and interviews with Johnson and her colleagues and friends, they will create and distribute a one-hour (56:46) documentary film. Rafael Samanez and Leilani Clark of Elevate Media Films are working their magic as the filmmakers and producers.

When asked, Johnson stated that she “felt honored” that the women in her circle saw something in her that merited time and resources to tell a story. She continued. “And the story is more than just my story, it’s the story of many black women who emerged from strong communities that show them a way to muster up the courage to try and build better communities for everybody. I hope that my story reflects the stories of countless women who are inspired by the work of their hands and in my case, quilting and textile arts to step out of the box and work for social change.”

Jereann King Johnson has a legacy of artistic creation and working for equality. She assisted in launching two quilting groups: African American Quilt Circle in Durham and the Heritage Quilters in Warrenton, NC.

Johnson and her fellow quilters work to preserve and highlight African American quilting traditions; they also speak to the present moment by creating quilts that artistically portray historic and current events. One such quilt of Johnson’s is called “Hope in Impossible Odds.” Made with black and white cotton and red linen, it depicts a figure behind bars against a swirling black-and-white background.

In addition to quilting, the Heritage Quilters work directly in the community by leading community tours, working with the schools, and organizing a giving circle that funds scholarships and youth field trips.

In the film, the producers will document the many ways that Johnson has been a pivotal figure in her community and beyond, and show the ways she connects people, encourages artistic expression, preserves and contributes to a fiber arts tradition, and works for justice.

The Resource Center for Women and Ministry is hosting an exclusive sneak peek of the forthcoming documentary on Sunday, August 25, from 3-5 pm at The Fruit in Durham. Alongside Johnson, attendees will meet director Courtney Reid-Eaton and film editor Tamar Rachkovsky. To donate or for more information, visit rcwms.org.

The Fruit is located at 305 S. Dillard Street in Durham, NC.

Share

The post Jereann King Johnson is the Focus of Forthcoming Documentary appeared first on Warrenist | Warren County NC Arts Culture Lifestyle Events Calendar Warrenton Norlina Littleton News.

LeAndrea Daise, a bright and dedicated student, has been awarded the prestigious Louise Spruill Scholarship, presented by the Heritage Quilters. This $500 scholarship will support the Henderson Collegiate graduate as she embarks on her academic journey at Elizabeth City State University, where she plans to major in Emergency Management.

The Louise Spruill Scholarship was named in honor of one of the founding members of the Heritage Quilters. The scholarship is made possible by the generous contributions of donors and the tireless fundraising efforts of the organization.

The Heritage Quilters and the entire community are proud to support LeAndrea in her educational pursuits and look forward to her future successes.

Share

The post Daise Awarded Louise Spruill Scholarship appeared first on Warrenist | Warren County NC Arts Culture Lifestyle Events Calendar Warrenton Norlina Littleton News.

About a dozen Warren County Schools teachers and staff members explored the community and culture of Warren County in what has become an annual tradition.

Sponsored by the Heritage Quilters and the Warren Education Fund, the New Staff and Teacher Tour is meant “to highlight Warren County’s cultural, historic, economic, and social landscapes from the perspectives of grassroots community members.” The goal is for those who attend the tour can become familiar with the community the students their students live in and also look to these places as resources for classroom activities or potential field trips.

Led by Heritage Quilters member, Jereann King Johnson, the tour began with a meet and greet and breakfast at 134 on Main and stops at the John Hyman Commemorative Sign; Warren County Courthouse; Aaron Hendrick House; F&M Trailer Park; Cherry Hill; Haliwa-Saponi School and Community; Buck Spring; Warren County Training School/North Warren High School; Seven Springs Farm & Vineyard; and Soul City.

Source: HeritageQuilters.net/giving

Share

The post PHOTOS: Warren County Schools New Staff and Teachers Tour appeared first on Warrenist | Warren County NC Arts Culture Lifestyle Events Calendar Warrenton Norlina Littleton News.

A vibrant quilted work of royal blue, gold, and white fabrics with gold embroidered lettering on display catches one’s attention when walking into Friends Two, a crafts boutique in downtown Warrenton on a Wednesday afternoon.

It’s the Warren County Training School-North Warren High School (WCTS-NWHS) commemorative quilt.

Composed of 49 blocks, each detailing a notable fact about or a black and white photograph featuring the school, the quilt stands as an artistic narrative framing the institution’s 100 year history.

Martina Williams, who attended the school, eagerly shared further insight about each block and Warren County history to media and customers who visited the shop for a cool reprieve from the heat in the form of lemonade, but were immediately drawn to the woven artwork.

A historical tidbit that tickled Williams happened almost a century ago on May 30, 1922. Records show that the School Board signed a contract for construction of a 6-room wooden building with $8,500. Exactly one month later, the construction was completed. “That wouldn’t happen today,” Williams quipped.

Close-up of quilt (: Crystal Myrick/Warrenist)

HOW A QUILT IS MADE
The quilt was no solo effort. A project of this magnitude required the expertise and creative vision of the right talents.

The WCTS-NWHS alumni immediately went to work determining which historic milestone deserved its own space. The alumni association commissioned Jereann King Johnson of the Heritage Quilters for guidance and to design the layout. Once the blocks were complete, Johnson proceeded to machine piece them together.

Next, Sherry Newton of Sherry’s Sew What embroidered the school name and message along the top of the quilt, followed by Betty Rollinson and Deborah Robertson of Friends Two putting on the finishing touches by quilting the three layers together.

And the results, a stunning representation of the educational institution’s timeline.

(l-r) Jereann King Johnson, Deborah Robertson, Betty Rollinson, Martina Williams (: Crystal Myrick/Warrenist)

Williams expressed her gratitude for the women’s hard work and dedication to completing the quilt. She hopes that it can be displayed in various locations throughout the county such as the Warren County Community Center, the Warren County Schools Central Office, and the Warren County Memorial Library. Her latter choice came to fruition this past weekend when it was on display in the library lobby during a Liberating Futures program.

During Memorial Day weekend, the school alumni will gather for Friday and Saturday evening events to celebrate the centennial. Along with catching up and chatting about yesteryear, they now have a new conversation piece that can carry on the school’s rich legacy.

Take a look at the Warren County Training School-North Warren High School (WCTS-NWHS) commemorative quilt below:

Share

The post (VIDEO) Commemorative Quilt Highlights School’s Illustrious 100-Year History appeared first on Warrenist | Warren County NC Arts Culture Lifestyle Events Calendar Warrenton Norlina Littleton News.

These two organizations share a common thread: cultivating and encouraging youth literacy.

For the second year in a row and in its commitment to building literacy consciousness through book reading and storytelling, the Heritage Quilters Giving Circle, a diverse group of quilting artists from Warren and Vance counties, donated children’s books to the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.- Rho Tau Omega Chapter.

The sorority received five copies each of The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson and The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem For the Country by Amanda Gorman.

The 1619 Project: Born on the Water, recommended reading of ages 7 to 10 years, tells the story of a young student‘s assignment to create a family tree and learns from her Grandmama the ancestors’ history that goes back to 1619.

Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman read The Hill We Climb at the inaugural of President Joe Biden. The poem calls for unity and justice, through both reckoning with the nation’s past and looking toward its future. It is recommended reading for all.

When asked why those specific books were chosen, Heritage Quilters Giving Circle president, Jereann King Johnson acknowledged the cultural and historic significance and relevance of each selection. She singled out Gorman’s book because it highlighted the accomplishments of a young writer and believed it would be relevant to young Warren County readers.

Organized in 2001, the Heritage Quilters and their love for the quilting arts have catapulted them to being recognized as a philanthropic organization that, with their skills and artistic vision, have allowed them to provide scholarships for area college-bound students, fund summer field trips, maintain a historic house in Warren County, North Carolina, and conduct Mathematics-based curriculum workshops for elementary-aged students.

For more informtion about the Heritage Quilters, visit the website at: www.heritagequilters.net.

(from l-r) Margaret Bullock, Jereann King Johnson, Magnolia Clanton, Belinda Mack Alston

Share

The post Heritage Quilters Donate Children’s Books to AKA Sorority 📚 appeared first on Warrenist | Warren County NC Arts Culture Lifestyle Events Calendar Warrenton Norlina Littleton News.