Michael C Thorpe is an exciting young American artist who has burst on to the art scene, telling stories about his world expressed in quilts of colorful fabric, meandering stitching and printed canvas, in playful pencil and stitched drawings, and in surprising sculptural works. Thorpe came to quilting as an artistic vehicle connecting him to his bi-racial background. Quilting is a skill passed on intergenerationally by the matriarchs of Thorpe’s family who were part of the quilting community in New England. Thorpe’s subsequent discovery of the Gee’s Bend community of African American women quilters in Alabama offered the Artist deeper personal meaning in his chosen medium and a connection to his African American heritage.
The 14 Years Old publication is tied to his visual art, rather than a narrative novel. The book presents about 30 works, mainly colorful quilts, stitched drawings, printed canvases, and sculptural pieces, that reflect his artistic practice and personal experiences.
The title 14 Years Old refers to how Thorpe feels about his artistic journey, similar to how a 14-year-old is in an exploratory phase of growth, trying different skills and discovering their place in the world. Softcover.