The African American Quilt Circle (AAQC) is pleased to present an exhibition of quilts entitled, “Sew Much Life . . . Threads Connecting Lives” at the Hayti Heritage Center in Durham, NC. This captivating exhibit opens on March 17th, and runs through May 26th 2017. Many of the quilts displayed bring to life the social and political conditions in which we find ourselves today—themes ranging from gun, gang, and domestic violence to Black Lives Matter, modern day lynching, human trafficking and identity theft. Annette Bailey, exhibition curator and longtime member of the AAQC, says that, “the show will be eye-opening and thought-provoking in a way that makes people think and spur them to action.”

 
The “Sew Much Life…Threads Connecting Lives” exhibition finds the intersections between cloth, expression, and narrative. The exhibition theme grew out of the quilters’ concerns about and response to an epidemic of violence that seems ever-present and unrelenting. Some of the quilts explore violence through a historical lens. Others dig into current events centered around highly charged perspectives related to the killing of African Americans. This powerful approach to artistic representation is not new for quilters. While many of the artists associated with the AAQC have in the past produced exquisite pieces that speak to both the oppressive conditions and resilience of African Americans, The “Sew Much Life… Threads Connecting Lives” exhibition boldly tackles difficult times and conditions in our country. Again Annette Bailey says, “The quilts don’t have to have all of the answers, but they should pose lots of questions.”

 
About the African American Quilt Circle: With just one-year shy of 20 years, the African American Quilt Circle sprang from the hopes and dreams of women interested in not just preserving quilting traditions but re-imagining the art form and extending it forward. The geographically diverse membership has grown to over 50 members, primarily from the triangle area but extending out to Wilmington, Oxford, and Warrenton in North Carolina, Southside Virginia and as far away as Philadelphia and Panama. The AAQC quilters’ styles range from traditional quilting techniques to creating narrative and art quilts, drawing the viewer into a range of textile representations in quilts and quilting. The AAQC has grown into a world class organization of quilters, mounting numerous exhibitions around the state and with many of the quilters displaying pieces in internationally acclaimed exhibitions.

 
The public is invited to attend a reception, meet the quilt artists, and enjoy light refreshments and guitar music provided by Linwood Green on Friday, March 24, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, at the Hayti Heritage Center.

 
For more information about the exhibition and reception, email Annette Bailey: abailey641@aol.com, or call 919-477-8626 or visit us on Facebook at African American Quilt Circle of Durham. Hayti Heritage Center is open Monday and Tuesday 10 AM to 8 PM; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Call Hayti Heritage Center at 919-683-1709 for additional information.

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