Francine Haskins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Francine Haskins
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Francine Haskins, Washington, D.C. multi-media artist, 2021.
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| Born | February 10, 1947 Washington, D.C., U.S.
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| Education | McKinley Technology High School, Corcoran School of the Arts and Design |
| Known for | Painting Textile arts, Quilting, dollmaking Children's Books |
Francine Haskins, born on February 10, 1947, is an amazing American artist from Washington, D.C. She creates art using many different materials, especially fabrics, and she also illustrates books. She helped start a special art group called 1800 Belmont Arts, which was a place for Black artists in Washington, D.C., from 1991 to 2001.
Contents
Growing Up and Learning Art
Francine Haskins was born in 1947 in Washington, D.C. Her dad worked on the railroad and later in the U.S. Senate dining hall. Her mom taught English. Francine grew up in a time when schools were separated by race in D.C.
High School and Art School
She went to McKinley Technical High School and joined the Arts Club there. A famous artist named Sam Gilliam was her art teacher and really inspired her. After high school, in 1965, she studied advertising design at the Corcoran School of Art. She thought this was the best way to make a living as an artist.
Early Art Work and Community
At Corcoran, one of her professors, Percy Martin, introduced her to Topper Carew. Topper Carew was an architect and community leader. In 1970, Francine worked at The New Thing Art and Architecture Center. She made posters and brochures there. She also taught art to kids in the neighborhood.
Creating Unique Artwork
After her art studies, Francine worked for 13 years at a department store called Garfinckel's. She worked in sales and in the buying office. During this time, she noticed that there weren't many products that showed everyday African American life.
Making Art for Everyone
So, Francine started making her own note cards and dolls. These creations featured African American characters and scenes. By 1985, she decided to leave Garfinckel's to become a full-time artist. She began showing and selling her art at art fairs and special shows. She also took on custom art projects.
Illustrating Children's Books
In the early 1990s, a woman named Harriet Rohmer saw Francine's drawings on a sweatshirt at a book fair. Harriet ran a company called Children's Book Press. She wanted Francine to create a book with African American characters. Francine thought about her own childhood in Washington, D.C. She then wrote and illustrated two books: I Remember 121 (1990) and Things I Like About Grandma (1991). Her first book, I Remember 121, was very popular and used in many city schools.
Art in the Community
In 1993, Francine Haskins helped first graders paint a mural. This mural was on an outside wall at Shepherd Park Elementary School in Washington, D.C. Since 2016, the gift shop at the National Museum of African American History and Culture has sold handmade dolls created by Francine.
1800 Belmont Arts: A Special Place for Art
A Washington, D.C. resident named Rashida Mims had an idea for a community space. She wanted a place just for Black art and culture. In 1991, she, her husband Jamal Mims, and other artists opened 1800 Belmont Arts. It was a Victorian house in the Adams Morgan neighborhood.
Francine's Studio and Teaching
The rooms in the house were set up as small shops or studios. Francine Haskins opened her own studio there in 1991. She sold her artwork directly to the public. For several years, Francine also taught classes on Saturdays. In these classes, she showed people how to make handmade dolls.
The Legacy of Belmont Arts
Some of the artists who stayed at 1800 Belmont Arts for a long time included Francine Haskins, Ampofo Designs (who made ceramic sculptures and textile designs), and the Graham Collection (who sold Black collectibles). The three-story house closed in 2001. After that, some of the artists, including Francine, opened a new place called Belmont Arts East. This new location was in the Brookland neighborhood and was open from 2001 to 2007.
Books by Francine Haskins
Francine Haskins has written and illustrated several books, often sharing stories about African American life and culture.
- I Remember "121" (1991): This book describes Francine's childhood and family life in Washington, D.C.
- Things I Like about Grandma (1992): Francine wrote and illustrated this book about a close relationship between a girl and her grandmother.
- Francine Haskins Studio Presents "Same Spirit, Different Hands": The Belmont Arts Guild Cookbook (1994): This cookbook includes recipes from several African American artists.
- Hair! (1987): Francine illustrated this book about African American hair care.
- A Christmas Carol (2018): Francine illustrated Charles Dickens' classic story, showing the characters as Black Victorians.
- Tenderheaded: A Comb-Bending Collection of Hair Stories (2002): This book is a collection of essays and poems about African American women and their hair. Francine contributed illustrations to it.
Art Shows and Exhibitions
Francine Haskins' artwork has been shown in many art exhibitions over the years. These shows often feature her dolls, fiber art, and illustrations.
- 1991: "Yes Sir. That's My Baby. African American Dolls." at Banneker-Douglass Museum, Annapolis, MD.
- 1992: "Dolls! by African-American Artists" at Diggs Gallery, Winston-Salem State University.
- 1992: "Testimony of Culture: African American Arts Speaks to the Jury" at Ascension Gallery, Washington, D.C.
- 1995: "Pass It On: The Art of African-American Children's Literature" at Banneker-Douglass Museum, Annapolis, MD.
- 2003: "Something for the Soul" at American Jazz Museum, Kansas City, MO. This show featured handmade dolls and quilts.
- 2006: "FOUND! Black Artists of DC2" at Graham Collection, Washington, D.C.
- 2012: "Whimsical/Funky Hand Painted Chairs" at Adobe Design Center & Showroom, Washington, D.C.
- 2013: "Belmont Legacy Exhibition" at Mount Rainier Artist Lofts, Mount Rainier, MD. This show featured historical photos and art from former 1800 Belmont Arts artists.
- 2019: "Assemblages: Fiber, Thread and Found Objects" at Portico Gallery, Brentwood, MD.
- 2020: "African American Dollmaking and Puppetry: Renegotiating Identity, Restoring Community" at the Library of Congress, American Folklife Center, D.C.
- 2021: "Nine Artists | Nine Months | Nine Perspectives: Birth of 2020 Visions" at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, Hyattsville, MD. This exhibition featured artists' books responding to events like COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement.
