Elizabeth Talford Scott facts for kids
Elizabeth Talford Scott (born February 7, 1916 – died April 25, 2011) was a talented American artist. She was especially famous for making beautiful and unique quilts.
Growing Up and Learning to Quilt
Elizabeth Caldwell was born near Chester, South Carolina. She grew up on a farm called Blackstock Plantation. Her family worked on the land, just like her grandparents had, who were once enslaved there. Elizabeth was one of fourteen children.
Her family was full of artists and storytellers. They made many things by hand, like pottery, metal items, baskets, quilts, and knitted goods. Both her parents made quilts, and Elizabeth learned how to quilt by the time she was nine years old. Her father worked on the railroad. He would collect fabric scraps during his travels. He even made his own natural dyes from berries and clay to color the fabrics.
In 1940, Elizabeth moved to Baltimore, Maryland. She moved north to find better job opportunities and to escape unfair treatment. This move was part of a big movement of people called the Great Migration.
Her Artistic Journey
When Elizabeth moved to Baltimore, she worked very long hours. She was a domestic helper, a nanny, and a cook. Because of these jobs, she stopped quilting for about 30 years, from 1940 to 1970.
After she retired from her other jobs, Elizabeth started quilting again. She soon created her own special style. She built on the traditional "strip piecing" method she learned from her family. Her new quilts were more than just fabric pieces sewn together. They often included:
- Embroidery (decorative stitching)
- Appliqué (fabric shapes sewn onto a background)
- Beads
- Sequins
- Plastic netting
- Found objects like stones, buttons, and shells
Her quilts became rich and detailed artworks. They were often abstract, meaning they didn't show clear pictures. They also had uneven designs. Her quilts often told stories about her family, her personal life, and her childhood in the countryside.
Elizabeth often gave workshops and demonstrations to teach others about her craft. She also worked closely with her daughter, artist Joyce J. Scott, to educate students.
Where Her Art Was Shown
Elizabeth Talford Scott's quilts were shown in many important art places. These included:
In New York, her work was displayed at:
- The Museum of Biblical Art
- The Studio Museum of Harlem
- The Museum of American Folk Art
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
In 1987, Elizabeth received the Women's Caucus for Art Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognized her amazing work over her lifetime. In 1990, Elizabeth and her daughter, Joyce, were featured in a film called The Silver Needle: The Legacy of Elizabeth and Joyce Scott.
In 1998, the Maryland Institute College of Art held a special show of her work. It was called Eyewinkers, Tumbleturds and Candlebugs: The Art of Elizabeth Talford Scott. This show then traveled to other museums, including the Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum.
You can find Elizabeth Talford Scott's art in several private and museum collections. These include the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Delaware Art Museum, and the Philbrook Museum of Art. Her work has also been shown at the Goya Contemporary gallery in Baltimore, Maryland.
Family Life
In 1940, after moving to Baltimore, Elizabeth Caldwell met and married Charlie Scott, Jr. They had one daughter, the artist Joyce J. Scott (born in 1948). When Joyce was twelve, Elizabeth and Charlie separated. Charlie Scott Jr. passed away in 2005. Elizabeth and Joyce continued to live together in Baltimore until Elizabeth's death in 2011. She was 95 years old.
