HOLDING THE LINE and my October 2013 schedule

Seven months have passed since my last post.

I've spent most of the spring and summer living, breathing, talking about my portfolio of prints dedicated to the activists and foot soldiers of the 1963 Birmingham Civil Rights Movement.  HOLDING THE LINE is the title of the portfolio of prints and the book. The book can be purchased on-line at debrariffe.zenfolio.com

Bookmark this page. 
I'll bring you new information about the prints over the next few days.

You'll find a lovely article about my needlepoint and art in the September 2013 issue of Southern Lady magazine. This is a screen shot of the cover. The bar has been set so much higher, after working with the professionals who came to my home studio for the four hour photo shoot. Moving forward, I won't settle for anything less!

Here is my October 2013 schedule brochure.

Birmingham Public Library: Local Author's Expo

The Birmingham Public Library -Central Branch- will host a Local Author's Expo Saturday, February 2, 2013 from 10am until 3:00pm. I'll have copies of my publication "HOLDING THE LINE" - a book of 32 linoleum block relief print portraits honoring the civil rights activists and foot soldiers of the 1963 Birmingham Civil Rights Campaign. 

You can read about the "Holding the Line" print series at WELD for Birmingham.

The Central Branch of the Birmingham Pubic Library is located at 2100 Park Place in downtown Birmingham.

Here's a schedule of events and a list of participants.

Stop by and say hello! 

"Holding the Line" coming together

                                                       Geez.
Every time I step away from blogging or sending a tweet or two the dang interface changes!! Why can't things just remain as they are? I don't care that much for blogging or tweeting. It's time consuming and I'd much rather cut blocks. However, I've learned that I have to (at least) have a working knowledge of both. If not, I'm going to be left behind. Hey, that's the name of a movie, isn't it? Left behind. Anyway, here I sit looking at the new (to me) BLOGGER Post page. Mumble. Mumble.

Today I've just completed the last of 31 images; portraits of civil rights activists and foot soldiers of 1963 Birmingham. I began cutting the blocks in October 2011. I'd planned to cut fifty blocks to commemorate the 50th year anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement. But it turned out to be a pipe dream. I work everyday . . . 9 to 5 . . . and by the time I make it home, I'm simply exhausted. Mentally exhausted. And just plain pissed off that the best part of my day has been spent sitting in front of a computer creating mundane (dare I say it?) boring design assignments. medical. dental. medical. dental. This is why I report to work everyday. medical. dental. medical. dental. medical. dental. medical. dental.

Anyway, I've assembled a few of the cut linoleum blocks on the floor and I've taken photos. Do you recognize any of the civil rights activists? If I count the 16th Street Baptist Church marquee I have a total of 32 blocks. Here it is -the iconic 16th Street Baptist Church sign. The newsprint proof is positioned on top of the lino block.

The entire body of work is entitled HOLDING THE LINE.  www.holding-the-line.com