Scranton — The Everhart Museum is pleased to present coinciding textile exhibitions “Every Stitch Counts: Works from the Social Justice Sewing Academy” and “Bold Independence: African American Quilts” from the Collection of David Whaley, on view from Sept. 2 to Dec. 27, 2021.
“Every Stitch Counts” explores themes of social justice through the eyes of teenagers using textile art as a form of expression. “Bold Independence” highlights the works of celebrated quilt-makers from Alabama and Mississippi. Both exhibitions focus on works by people living in marginalized communities who use fabric to express identity and ideas related to social justice.
“Every Stitch Counts” was developed by the Everhart Museum in conjunction with the Social Justice Sewing Academy, a national youth education program that bridges artistic expression with activism to advocate for social justice. This program encourages young people to use textile art as a vehicle for personal transformation, community cohesion, and social change. The works included in this exhibition, created by either individual artists or collectives, highlight social justice issues that have affected the artists, their families, and their communities. The powerful images create unique narratives addressing issues such as racism, gun violence, education, immigration, and poverty. This exhibition is sponsored by PNC Bank.
Everhart Museum Executive Director Kathy Johnson Bowles said, “The works created represent the powerful voices present in the ‘craftivism’ movement (craft and activism). Crafts are reclaimed from notions of play and frivolity to a medium that packs a punch in speaking out against injustice. The Social Justice Sewing Academy gives teenagers an incredible tool to channel their experiences into a form that brings awareness to serious issues.”
“Bold Independence” features quilts made during the second half of the 20th century by 11 African American women from Mississippi and Alabama. A number of the works are by the famous Gee’s Bend quilters and a majority were produced in the Black Belt region of Central Alabama. Curated by Bowles and formed by selections from the collection of David Whaley, this exhibition sheds light on artistic traditions found in African American quiltmaking.
While living in great poverty and oppression as daughters and granddaughters of slaves, the exhibition’s artists produced extraordinary works that have been celebrated and chronicled by acclaimed scholars and exhibited at prestigious institutions across the country. The quilts capture the seven traits that distinguish traditional African American quilts: vertical strips, bright colors, large designs, asymmetry, improvisation, multiple patterning, and symbolic forms.
“The importance of these quilts isn’t based on the number of stitches or the quality of the quilting, as with some quilts. It is really about the power of their design,” Whaley said.
The Everhart Museum is located at 1901 Mulberry Street, Scranton. It has temporary hours of noon to 5 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m on Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students and seniors, and free for children 12 and under. Admission is free for Everhart Museum members as well as military and family. For more information and updates on expanded hours, please visit everhart-museum.org/, contact the Museum at 570-346-7186, or email general.information@everhartmuseum.org.
Mary Lee Bendolph (Gee’s Bend, Alabama, b. 1935)
Pig in a Pen (Log Cabin Variation)
cotton, synthetics
86 x 77 inches
Collection of David Whaley
From Bold Independence
Image 3:
Social Justice Sewing Academy