Art in the Atrium

The Social Fabric: Black Artistry in Fiber Arts, An Exhibition in Homage to Viki Craig

June 4, 2021 – October 24, 2021

Morris Museum located at 6 Normandy Heights Rd, Morristown, NJ

This exhibition in partnership between Art in the Atrium (ATA) and the Morris Museum, is dedicated to showcasing the diversity of Black art. Deeply rooted in quilt-making tradition, today’s Black fiber arts incorporate conventional textile skills with contemporary art and design practices. Beyond their visual and tactile allure, these works communicate societal and cultural messages at the intersection of identity and inspiration. This year’s theme honors the lifelong work of ATA co-founder and quilter Viki Craig (1947-2018) in elevating Black artistry.

Curated by Gwendolyn Barrington Jackson, Nette Forné Thomas, Onnie Strother, and Wannetta Phillips (Art in the Atrium, Inc.), with Ronald T. Labaco (Morris Museum).

My tapestry Wonder Woman is featured amongst 50 works by over 27 artists, including Aminah Robinson, Beverly McCutcheon, Bisa Washington, Carole Robinson, Clara Nartey, Denise Toney, Ellaree Pray, Faith Ringgold, Gladys Barker Grauer, Glendora Simonson, Janet O. Green, Jeanine Bowen, Katie Commodore, Kianga Jinaki, Michael Cummings, Minnie Melvin, Sharela May Bonfield, Sherry Shine, Shervone Neckles, Stephen Towns, Tina Williams Brewer, Toni Thomas, Viki Craig, Wannetta Phillips, and Maureen Kelleher and The Social Justice Collaboration Quilts Project.

Wonder Women… realized

I can’t believe its done. All I need to do is find a wall big enough to hang it and photograph it.

Wonder Women is a riot of pony beads, buttons, bottle caps, crystals, mirrors, flowers, embroidery, and bling measuring a 10’x8’.

Over the course of four weekends, Garden Level hosted four Sewing Circles. More than twenty people headed the call. Each influencing the work in their own way.

A nine-year-old girl walked in off the street with her mom and learned to sew her very first button. Even, two men joined the fun and documented their work.

Photo by Khaled Elbanna

A massive thank you to everyone one who stepped in to sew and offer their helpful suggestions. Shout outs too…

my studio assistant, Victoria Rozario, and local artists, friends and collectors, Sonya Askew, Andrea Morin, Maria Ross, Deirdre Kennedy, Corrine Beth Bentley, Shilpa Gowan, Leslie Sheryll, Beverly McCutcheon, Donna Drew, Diana Tyson, Jasmine Malloy, Carolyn Logan, Colleen Mullen, William Jiggets, Khaled Elbanna, Cecilia Rozario and anyone else i inadvertently left off.

Many hands makes light work.

The tapestry will show at Visual Arts Center in Summit NJ this Fall. I hope everyone who helped make this piece come together will make it to the opening. Details to come.