Bring a Folding Chair: A Portrait of Shirley Chisholm by Bisa Butler

When I saw this art, I was struck by the color contrast in it using unique shades. At first, the green background made me think of nature and calmness. I even wondered if Chisholm was connected to environmental activism. But I realized that many of Butler’s portraits have green backgrounds. Other details I found were: One hand is gloved while the other is bare, and her right and left sleeves are completely different. her skirt features a pattern of chairs, which caught my attention because it was unusual, but researching a little about Bisa Butler, I knew it had significance: In Butler’s art, variety and intensity of colors suggest the depth and complexity of the person she portrays. When I learned more about the chair patterns, I found out that there is a Shirley Chisholm quote: “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair”. This gave the chairs a meaning, they were symbols of independence and self reliance. They represent the courage to create your own space when you are excluded. What I noticed the most though is Chisholm’s bright blue hand. her raised hand feels like a gesture of leadership. Also, since the color used was blue, it emphasized her calmness and trustworthiness. Overall, Butler’s quilt was so meaningful. The layered fabrics and the unique colors wonderfully showed who Chisholm was.