Made to Last: The Legacy of the Jubilee Quilt Circle
May 27 - September 10,2022
From the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft: "This summer, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC) is pleased to present Made to Last: The Legacy of the Jubilee Quilt Circle, held in conjunction with the 35th anniversary of The Community Artists’ Collective (The Collective). Featuring a selection of quilts made by current participants and founding members, the exhibition celebrates the history of The Collective’s Jubilee Quilt Circle and honors the quilting traditions and narratives of the African American community. Serving as an educational and cultural link among African American artists and all communities, the Community Artists’ Collective has always made quilting and sewing an important part of their programming. In 2007, they officially named The Jubilee Quilt Circle as a regular program, open to anyone interested in learning or sharing their quilting, knitting, crocheting, and/or embroidery projects. In addition to hosting weekly meetings, the Circle promotes the legacy of African American quilting (a longstanding tradition, with roots in Africa) through workshops, art fairs, and community outreach. The exhibition celebrates the transformative process of quilting and the powerful connections this art form creates across generations. Serving as loving and creative embodiments of the members who made them, the quilts on view incorporate materials, narratives, and techniques from the past to build a lasting legacy for future generations. Many reference symbolism, such as the coded patterns of the Underground Railroad quilts that guided travelers many years ago. Current members of The Collective often reflect on their ancestors’ preference for hand sewing over machine stitching, a contrast to the combination of techniques and free improvisation they currently use to add their own creative signatures to their works. The quilts on view express a variety of stories and artistic styles. Established quilter Leslie Abrams relocated to Houston, after evacuating from New Orleans due to Hurricane Katrina. Many of her quilts were destroyed in the flood; however, the exhibition will feature Migration (2006), one of her salvaged and prized hand-stitched quilts. Works like Underground Railroad (2019), by Hastle Murray, exemplify the ingenuity often used in quilt making. Murray’s unique approach to fabric printing allowed her to share the history of the Underground Railroad without breaking the bank. By scanning hand-colored images from Peter F. Copeland’s The Story of the Underground Railroad Coloring Book, Murray was able to run muslin cloth through her inkjet printer to produce stunning images on the fabric, which then could be sewn onto her quilt and embellished. Hope (1987–2017), created by The Collective’s co-founder and executive director, Michelle Barnes, was created over a 30-year span, as a “labor of love” for her son, Barry. This quilt, like many others included in the exhibition, reflects the hard work and dedication that these artists have for their loved ones and the community as a whole. Barnes commented, “Quilting is actually a metaphor that stitches creativity, comfort, love, protection, hope, happiness and more. I hope the quilts will bring joy and conjure up warm and wonderful memories for all who view them." Made to Last: The Legacy of the Jubilee Quilt Circle is co-curated by HCCC Curator Kathryn Hall and HCCC Curatorial Fellow Cydney Elaine Pickens. About The Community Artists’ Collective The Community Artists' Collective serves as an educational and cultural link among African American artists and all communities to inspire unlimited creativity. It aims to serve as a bastion for cross-cultural appreciation, artistic empowerment, and accessibility to the arts by fostering racial and ideological inclusivity among Houston’s local art community. More information about The Collective can be found at www.thecollective.org. The Jubilee Quilt Circle meets every Thursday, from 11 AM – 3 PM, and Friday, from 1 – 3 PM at The Collective, 4101 San Jacinto Street, Suite 116, Houston, Texas 77004. About Houston Center for Contemporary Craft Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC) is a nonprofit visual arts center dedicated to advancing education about the process, product, and history of craft. HCCC continues to serve as a treasured resource in the Houston arts community and the region by showcasing emerging and acclaimed artists in exhibitions, introducing visitors of all ages to contemporary craft through hands-on and virtual programming, and supporting the development of working artists through its artist residency program. HCCC is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM – 5 PM. Closed major holidays. Admission is free. Before visiting, the public should visit www.crafthouston.org to view the latest visitor guidelines. All programs and events are subject to change or cancellation in response to the current COVID-19 conditions. HCCC is located in the Museum District at 4848 Main Street, three blocks south of the Wheeler Ave. MetroRail station. Free parking is available directly behind the facility, off Rosedale and Travis Street. HCCC is supported by individual donors and members and funded in part by The Brown Foundation; Houston Endowment, Inc.; the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance; Texas Commission on the Arts; the National Endowment for the Arts, the Kinder Foundation; the Morgan Foundation; Windgate Charitable Foundation; and the Wortham Foundation. HCCC is a member of the Houston Museum District and the Midtown Arts District. For more information, call 713-529-4848 or visit www.crafthouston.org. Find HCCC on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @CraftHouston."
Reception: May 27, 2022 | 5-8 pm
Houston Center for Contemporary Craft - HCCC
4848 Main Street
Houston, TX 77002
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