Electronic Village: Kyra Hicks

Kyra is one deep sistah! Her page was last updated on 3/8/1999...

Wayne is very proud of both of his sisters. One of them is Kyra Hicks. Kyra is an extremely talented woman. This portion of the Electronic Village is dedicated to Kyra...

Career Information...

Kyra received her undergraduate degree from Howard University in Washington DC. after graduation Kyra went overseas to attend the London School of Economics. In 1991 she received her MBA from the University of Michigan. For seven years she worked in marketing for Hallmark Cards, Inc. in Kansas City, MO. In 1998 she became the director of marketing for an up-and-coming puzzles and games company, Binary Arts Corporation, based in Alexandria, VA.

Quilting...

Kyra first got interested in quilting in 1991, when she visited an exhibit of African American storytelling quilts since slavery, and was inspired by the stories and the artistry of the works.

"I was fascinated by how everyday events were documented. Our grandmothers poured as much of their artistry into those patchwork quilts as Andy Warhol did into a Campbell soup can. maybe even more since our grandmothers added huge doses of love."

Kyra got started quilting during her last year in business school, when she and several friends would meet monthly for breakfast to stay in touch, discuss coping with b-school, the job search and life. To celebrate these meetings, she made each of the women a quilted wall hanging entitled "Sistahs @ Breakfast". the work, which she made for Monica Dee Gullory, Joy Calloway, and Lisa Commons (all MBA grads from Univ of Michigan), was her first effort to tell a story through cloth. It was included in a local Kansas museum exhibit.

Since moving to Arlington, VA in early 1998, Kyra continues to create story quilts. A recent quilt, "another tribe", explores interracial dating. In addition, she continues to look for new places to purchase fabrics. The top stores on her list include the (in)famous G Street Fabrics and Maryland's Paradise Fabrics, which sell African prints for $3.95/yard!"

Kyra is a busy career woman. She is often asked where she finds the time to create art. Her reply is,

"I make time. Sometimes an idea will occur and I must sketch out the story or feeling. The most difficult part is finding the right fabrics to piece together. I get really excited once I start cutting pieces and a face or person starts to emerge."

Kyra has no formal art training, but says when she has questions there are a number of sources to turn to. She particularly mentions Mrs. Georgia Patton in Kansas City, KS, who is "not only a quilter and folk artist, but also makes the best jellies around."

Other artists whose work have inspired Kyra's work include: artist and author Faith Ringgold, NY artist and story quilter Michael Cummings, quilt historian Cuesta Benberry, quilter Penny Sisto, Assembly Artists Beverly Heath. Others include Renee Stout, Washington DC artist/dollmaker Francine Haskins, and Kansas City artists-friends Sherry Whetstone-McCall, Cathy Johnson, Nedra Bonds, Shane Evans, David Smalls, Jonathan Knight, Leroy Allen andDean Mitchell.

Quilts and Family...

the bluelight corner: black women writing on passion, sex & romantic love

At a recent family reunion the spirit of one of Kyra's oldest relatives was immortalized in a quilt created by Kyra which is simply entitled, Aunt Alzeda's Sunday Concerts. [© 1996 Kyra E. Hicks, quilt, 88"x70", photo by David Smalls]. Aunt Alzeda was born Alzeda Love Elizabeth Pittman Crockett Hacker in 1907. She graduated from Fisk University and studied at the Juilliard School of Music. Early in her career she taught at Bethune-Cookman College. In fact, Mary McLeod Bethune introduced the young Miss Crockett to her future husband, C. Leroy Hacker. Zora Neale Hurston was a witness at their wedding in 1934. Aunt Alzeda's strong faith in god continues to guide her. The indomitable matriarch of three generations prays daily for her family and community. A few months after she received the quilt Aunt Alzeda wrote a marvelous letter to Kyra.

If you are reading this note then perhaps it is time for you to consider the value of quilts in your family. Document the quilts being made in your family by ensuring that the quilter's name and year quilt was made are written on the backside of the quilt in permanent black ink. We hope to show quilts that have been made by other members of Kyra's family over the course of time in this spot.

...Kyra's Work!

Our hope is that we will be able to keep a list here of the places that Kyra's work is exhibiting across the country. Additionally, we would like to share with you quality pictures of some of Kyra's work.

...Wait! There's More!!

We have more information on African American quilting that we would like to share...

Please click on the blinking button to learn more about...

Quilting...hot off the press!
Quilting research
Quilting on the web
National exhibits
Cloth dolls & other artistic endeavors
...much, much, more!