A new exhibition opening Tuesday spotlights African American textile arts, including a selection of quilts, and the stories behind them.
Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council’s African American Committee curated the show, titled “The Fabrics of Our Lives.” It’s TRAHC’s 2022 Annual Regional Celebration of African American Artists exhibition.
One highlight is a 25th anniversary quilt created by the Quilting Sisters of Color Quilting Guild of Dallas, Texas, this year’s regional artists featured by the committee.
The exhibition’s focus “is on the historical, cultural, and heritage stories behind the fabric and fiber items, as told through the lens of African American experiences,” according to a news release.
Vignettes focused on family, church, school, community quilting bees, wearable art and fiber arts demonstrate the stories that are the pieces’ “universal and connecting threads.”
“The stories teach us about the relationship of the artists to society and their places in history. Their stories give larger views of the connections between and among all people,” TRAHC said.
In addition to the Dallas group, featured artists include local quilters Bettie Huntley and Darlene Taylor; local wearable art designer Justine Dansby; and national contributors O.V. Brantley, Rosie Greenway and Carolyn Beard Whitlow. Also included is the quilt collection of Treva West.
(“The Fabrics of Our Lives” will be open Feb. 8 through March 12 at the Regional Arts Center, 321 W. Fourth St. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is free, and tours are available by appointment.
Some of the quilts featured in the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council’s exhibition “The Fabrics of Our Lives” hang Wednesday in the Regional Arts Center in Texarkana, Texas. Beginning Tuesday, the show focuses on the historical, cultural and heritage stories behind fabric and fiber items, as told through the lens of African American experiences. (Submitted photo)
