Veronica “Conaky” Mays
2032 E Main Rd
Portsmouth, RI 02871
401-862-2531
Conaky.quilter@gmail.com
Facebook: Conaky’s Quilt Page
Instagram: Conaky.quilter
www.conakysquilts.com
Artist statement
Rhode Island native Veronica Mays is a former high school English teacher who left the profession in 2019 to pursue her passion for quilting. She is in a zone of peace and joy when sewing stating, "Most often, I'd rather be quilting." Mays is partial to using African-inspired fabric to create pieces that reflect her culture. Art quilts and portrait quilts using applique' are her favorite designs. Her background is in Writing (Journalism, poetry, fiction), and Drama.
Guilds:
Quilter’s By the Sea, Portsmouth RI, February 2016 - present
Studio Art Quilt Associates MA/RI, May 2016 - present
New England Quilt Museum, November 2017 - present
Rhode Island Threads, 2018 - present
Austin Area Quilt Guild 2021 - 2023
Kuumba Quilters of Central Ohio 2021 - present
Grants:
Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, 2018 Grant Recipient, African American Art Heritage quilts, January 2018 – June 2018
Assets for Artists, January 2019 - June 2019
Displays:
Pacific International Quilt Festival, Santa Clara, California, Fashion Show 2023, 2022 - modeled two original coat creations in each show
North Charleston African American Quilt Festival 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018
Newport Public Library, Black History Month Display, February/March 2023, February/March 2022, February 2021, 2020, 2019
Solo Exhibit: “Herstory: The portrait quilts of Veronica Mays. Paper Nautilus Book Store, Providence, Rhode Island. February/March 2023.
“Black Mermaids: From Africa to America” City Gallery, Charleston, South Carolina. Three pieces, May - July 2023
“Sister Girlfriends”, City Hall, North Charleston, South Carolina. May - June 2023.
“All That We Carry”, Sumter Gallery, South Carolina, Three art quilts on display - “Sax Break”, “Carrying On”, “The Only One”, November 2022 - January 13, 2022
National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center, Wilberforce, Ohio, “Mom and Dad”, October-November 2022
Atlanta Quilt Festival, “Beach Beauties at Twilight” – first place judges ribbon, third place viewer’s choice, “Ski Trip”, “La Elegance”, “Mom and Dad”. August 2022
North Charleston African American Cultural Festival, “Enough For Everyone”, May 2022-May 2023
National African American Quilt Guild, Dorchester Chamber of Commerce, Cambridge, MD, Harriet Tubman Tribute, “African American Sampler Quilt”, “Queen Aretha”, November 2021
Houston International Quilt Festival, “The Eyes Have It”, Eye Contact, November 2021
Barrington Public Library, 6 quilts, September 2021
North Charleston Arts Festival, “From African Kings to American Kings”, “Great Great Grandma Kate”, May 2021
Newport Public Library, Newport, RI solo display, February 2020, February 2021 (with Zoom lecture), February 2022
Portsmouth Public Library, Portsmouth RI, six pieces on display, October 2019, solo show February 2018, 2019
Artists Brush Gallery, Lowell, Massachusetts, “Phenomenal Mom”, July 2019-September 2019
Lowell Telecommunications Center, Lowell, Massachusetts, “SaHaiLaRey”, “Widows”, “No One Knew”, July 2019 - September 2019
Brown vs. Board of Education National Historic Landmark, Topeka, Kansas, “Jim Crow, No Mo’”, July 2019
North Charleston Arts Festival, South Carolina, “Nicholas Brothers, Tap Dancers”, “Josephine Baker”, May 1 - June 15, 2019
Pawtucket Arts Collaborative, Mineral Spring Avenue, Pawtucket, RI, “Flower Girl”, March 28 - May 2, 2019
Newport Public Library, Newport, Rhode Island, “Pride in My Heritage” Quilt Display, February 1 - 28, 2019
Portsmouth Free Library, Portsmouth, Rhode Island, “Pride in My Heritage” Quilt Display, February 2019
Postcard workshop, L.E.A.D. program for young women, November 2018,
Mancuso Quilt Festival, Edison, New Jersey, and other locations “Little Black Dress” quilt on display, April 2018 - August 2018
National African American Quilt Conference, Lawrence, Kansas – Langston Hughes Quilt “Jim Crow, No Mo’”, July 2018
National African American Quilt Conference, Lawrence, Kansas - “Me Too” Quilt, July 2018
Mixed Magic Theatre, Pawtucket, RI - Trunk Show - June 2018
Mixed Magic Theatre, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, display June 2018 - present
North Charleston Arts Festival, South Carolina, “Mays Ladies Unite” May 2018 - May 2018 and “Phenomenal Mom”, May 2018
Newport Public Library Quilt Talk, “Quilting Around The Block”, February 26, 2018
Roger Williams University, Quilt Talk and Demonstration, February 15, 2018
Month long (single) quilt display, "African Queens", Barrington Public Library, Rhode Island, March-April 2018
Month long Quilt Display, African Heritage Quilts (ten quilts), Newport Public Library, Newport, RI February 2018
Artist’s Brush Gallery, Lowell, Massachusetts, “Little Black Dress” quilt on display, July 2017 - September 2017
National African American Quilt Convention, Lawrence, Kansas - Two “Scrappy Lady” quilts on display at the National African American Quilt Museum, July 2017 - September 2017
Teaching:
Newport Art Museum, Newport, Rhode Island, Community Quilt Project, Summer 2022
Nowell Academy, AS220, Providence, Rhode Island, Arts week quilt projet
Quilted Postcards, Kansas City, Missouri, July 2019; LEAD Academy, Providence, RI February 2019;
Private lessons
Patterns and kits:
“Just Coolin’”, 12” applique
Post Card Kit
Follow me on:
Facebook.com: “Conaky’s Quilt Page”
Instagram: Conaky.Quilter
Pinterest.com: Veronica Mays
Threads: conaky.quilter
www.conakysquilts.com
Veronica Mays is a Rhode Island native whose background is in writing (Journalism, poetry, fiction), and Drama. She worked in the newspaper industry as a Circulation Manager and columnist after which she entered the teaching profession. She taught high school English in Rhode Island, Alaska, and Italy! She found that as her passion for art quilting grew, her challenges in the classroom likewise increased. She often told herself, "I'd rather be quilting." In 2019, she finished her teaching career to pursue art quilting in earnest. Mays is in a zone of peace and joy when sewing and creating, which is delightfully supported by her tendency to be a night owl. She is partial to using African-inspired fabric to create pieces that reflect my culture. Art quilts and portrait quilts using applique' are my favorite designs. In the past couple of years she has also learned to create story coats, the first of which is entitled, "This Writer's Journey". On the coat are images of newspaper articles she wrote as a columnist for The Newport Daily News, scriptures, embroidered descriptions of her life, a dancer, and a woman. In bright red letters on the back it states, "Knowledge Is Power". She has created a dozen coats or jackets with various artistic focuses including specific colors, quilt blocks, designs, or themes. Additionally, she has had the opportunity to answer nationwide calls for artists and to have her works travel to various states for display. This has really allowed her to expand her knowledge and awareness of what is trending, while remaining true to herself and continuing to find her artistic voice. Mays was featured in the January 2023 edition of Quilt Folk magazine.
RI
CountryUnited States
