Take a close look at a quilt and you can almost hear the words of the maker, the fabric, and the purpose of this utilitarian work of art. But while every quilt has a backstory, the story quilt starts with a message.  A story quilt may include words, photos, non-traditional fabrics, and embellishments along with more standard quilting techniques and materials.

In this exhibit, we bring together the stories of a variety of individuals – master quilt artist Lauren Kingsland, her apprentice Grammy award-winning Cathy Fink, and members of the Uhuru Quilters Guild.  While the expertise of the quilters varies, each artist has the ability to tell a story in fabric in a unique and nuanced way, through choices of color, texture, design, and embellishment.

Ms. Kingsland will be sharing a series of personal story journal page quilts marking significant moments in her life as well as one of her newest works, “Why I Vote.”  Among Ms. Fink’s quilts is one about a song she wrote honoring a friend who died in the AIDS epidemic, an ironic project to complete during another pandemic. And among the varied quilts on exhibit by the Uhuru Quilters are those that respond to current events through the long lens of history.  Some of the artists have exhibited nationally, like one by Angela Lanier, whose work was recently juried into We Are The Story at the Textile Center in Minneapolis, MN.

In conjunction with this exhibit, several programs will be offered:

One Snip Stars for Quilters
January 16 at 3:00 pm
Hands-on virtual workshop on how to construct a 5-pointed star with a clever fold and just one snip of the scissors. Led by Lauren Kingsland.

Make a Flash Story Quilt
February 2 at 10:30 am and 7:00 pm
Hands-on virtual workshops on telling a simple story in fabric led by Lauren Kingsland.

Behind the Quilts: A Virtual Musical Experience
February 18 at 7:30 pm
Featuring music from Grammy-winning duo Cathy Fink and Marcie Marxer, spoken word by curator Lauren Kingsland, and shared stories behind creations by the Uhuru Quilters Guild members.

HerStory Through Quilts
March 6 at 11:00 am
Virtual presentation focusing on the anatomy of a story quilt and highlighting story quilts created by a diverse group of women. Led by Angela Lanier.