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Over the past year, Shipyard artists Stacey Carter and William Rhodes have worked with seniors from the Bayview Hunters Point community to preserve the history of the Hunters Point Shipyard through the Shipyard History Quilt Project. Seniors participated in history workshops at the Dr. George W. Davis Senior Center, exploring the contributions of African American workers during key moments in the shipyard's history. Through these sessions, participants examined historic photographs, newspapers, and shared personal stories, uncovering deep connections to their families and community.
Stacey Carter, artist and shipyard historian, contributed historic photographs along with the stories behind them, which deeply resonated with the senior community. William Rhodes transformed this imagery, along with personal stories from participants and their portraits into elements of the quilts through his artistic process. The project culminates in a series of quilts crafted by William Rhodes and the seniors, each telling the unique stories of the shipyard. Historic documents and video interviews by Stacey Carter add context and preserve community voices and experiences.
At the heart of this exhibit are stories of resilience and determination. The African American men and women who came to Hunters Point Naval Shipyard seeking jobs played a vital role in the war effort, often working under perilous and discriminatory conditions. Their efforts not only helped end World War II but also laid the foundation for the civil rights movement. Today, their descendants remain integral to the Bayview-Hunters Point community, now recognized as San Francisco’s African American Arts and Cultural District.
About the Artists
Stacey Carter A shipyard artist since 1998, Carter has transformed her studio into a mini-museum, offering tours focused on the shipyard's history, with information on the challenges faced by the Black workforce. A painter of the urban environment, she was drawn into the shipyard's history through her artistic exploration of its historic buildings.
William Rhodes A STAR Artist-in-Residence and director of the intergenerational art program at the Dr. George W. Davis Senior Center, collaborates with local seniors to turn family stories into community quilts, creating artworks that celebrate the history and resilience of African Americans.
Support Acknowledgement This exhibit is made possible by grants from the California Arts Council and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the San Francisco Arts Commission, the Zellerbach Family Foundation, and California Humanities.
We would also like to thank Bayview Senior Services for their collaboration and contributions.
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