"ART CAN BE MORE THAN A PICTURE ON THE WALL… IT CAN BE MAGICAL!": FIRST EDITION OF DINNER AT AUNT CONNIE'S HOUSE, SIGNED BY AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTIST FAITH RINGGOLD

RINGGOLD, Faith. Dinner at Aunt Connie's House. New York: Hyperion, (1993). Large square quarto, original pictorial paper boards, original dust jacket. $350.

First edition of award-winning artist Ringgold's third book for children, boldly signed by her on the half title, based on her famed story quilt, with over 20 full-page color illustrations.

Ringgold's Dinner at Aunt Connie's House tells the story of "Melody, an African-American girl in search of a role model. The child is entranced by stories that her aunt, a painter, weaves at the dinner table. One day Aunt Connie's tales take on a life of their own, when portraits she has done of women prominent in black history (Rosa Parks, Dorothy Dandridge, Bessie Smith, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth and Marian Anderson among them) come to life and take turns telling Melody and her cousin about their struggles" (Chicago Tribune). "The heart of the book—the pages in which the women tell their stories—is at once a magical and a ringing affirmation of their achievements" (Publishers Weekly). Ringgold's book is based on her 1986 story quilt, The Dinner Quilt, which is also pictured herein. The book's vibrant focus on 12 African American women expresses Ringgold's "belief that art can be more than a picture on a wall—it can envision our history… what's more, it can be magical!" Owner inkstamp.

A fine signed copy.