Sistahs in Indigo: A Conversation Featuring Arianne King Comer and Ifé Franklin

Join us for a special conversation between current Gibbes Visiting Artist Arianne King Comer and artist and activist Ifé Franklin exploring the power of indigo and each artists' dynamic work.

This event is presented by the College of Charleston African American Studies Program and Avery Research Center For African American History and Culture in Collaboration with the Gibbes Museum of Art.

This event will be streamed live on YouTube. No registration required.

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About our speakers

Arianne King Comer, a BFA graduate of Howard University, resides in North Charleston, SC as an artist, teacher, art consultant, and indigo advocate. In 1992, King Comer received the UN/USIS grant to study under the renowned Batik artist Chief Nike Davies-Okundaye in Oshogbo Nigeria, where her passion for indigo manifested. Since then, the artist has developed and led community-based textile and multi-media programs which include Yoruba Design Workshops at John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina, custom design classes for SPACE Gifted Student Program for Charleston County Schools as well as the SC Statewide Art Teacher's Workshop in Textile Design and Indigo Dyeing.

King Comer's work has been exhibited widely at prestigious institutions and galleries including the Columbia Museum of Art, City of Charleston's City Gallery at Waterfront Park, The Penn Center museum, and Zenith Gallery in Washington, DC. She is a board member of the International Center for the Indigo Culture (ICIC) and an SC representative for Economic Empowerment through Crafts through Bloomberg Philanthropy Project. King Comer is also an active member of the Gullah Society's Artist Program established in 2018.

While in residence at the Gibbes Museum, the artist will focus on several projects involving quilting a special piece for the Acres of Ancestry Initiative to a batik painting in remembrance of the Reburial of Enslaved on the ground of the Galliard at Anson and George Streets and in honor of the recently departed Doctor Ajani Ofunnyin.

Ifé Franklin has worked as a professional artist and community activist for over 30 years. Born and raised in Washington,D.C., Ifé began her arts education in high school, focusing then on black and white photography.

Ifé entered The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in the late 1980’s where she studied performance art, voice, video production, ceramics, and “The Art of Africa,” where she met her mentor, Master Adire Artist Mr. Stanley Pinckney.

Ifé owns and operates IféArts. which produces sculpture, installations, drawings, collage, photography, as well as fiber arts.

Ifé's book The Slave Narrative of Willie Mae was released in spring of 2018 and has since been donated and received by The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C.

Ifé believes it is her destiny to create and use her voice to convey her passion for the arts and her love for freedom, peace and justice.