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.

Playback the Art in the Atrium Virtual Talk

Lauren LeBeaux Craig, Esq., Executive Director of Art in the Atrium, Inc. and Dr. Cleveland Johnson, President/CEO of the Morris Museum, talk about about their brand-new partnership and upcoming special exhibition, The Social Fabric: Black Artistry in Fiber.

My tapestry Wonder Woman is hanging in the lobby of the museum through the end of October 2021.

Art in the Atrium 28th Annual Exhibit

Too bad we all sheltering in place and can’t visit in person. There is a lot of great art in this show. You can browse the catalog here.

I printed a high resolution image of my Wonder Woman mixed media work onto heavy rayon fabric and then went wild sewing trim, buttons, Pony Beads, mirrors, crystals, broken jewelry and recycled baby food bottle caps bringing this huge tapestry to life.

The tapestry was made during the summer of 2018 through a series of open studio sewing circle events where friends, friends of friends and strangers off the street turned up to help me sew. 
Prints are available.

Looking Forward To…

Ive been invited to participate in an as yet unnamed group exhibit at BSB Gallery in Trenton NJ this May 2020. The exhibit was inspired by my conversation with the curator about the experiences women of color in the corporate world.  My work will be featured alongside several other black women’s that hold a commanding presence both in their artwork and in their daily lives. I am really looking forward to meeting the other artists.

If Wonder Woman Selfie tapestry has not found a new home by May, I think her largess will fit nicely at BSB Gallery, in their soaring double height space. I hope they think so also…

“Welcome to Fight Club” Digital Print On Metallic Photo Paper
Framed Size: 22 x 22 x 1 inches, 2017
Being a black woman in corporate America is like Fight Club. I must mold my personality to be palatable as a peach and keep my opinions to myself. The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club.  The second rule of Fight Club is: you DO NOT talk about Fight Club!  Third rule of Fight Club: if someone yells “stop!”, goes limp, or taps out, your career is over.

Wonder Women at JC City Hall

Wonder Women’s stay at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey in Summit has come to a close but you can still see her in all her glory this month at Jersey City’s City Hall for the month of February.

LOCATION: Rotunda Gallery;  280 Grove St, Jersey City, NJ 07302

Visual Arts Center of NJ Opening: You Are Invited

Wonder Women tapestry will make her debut at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey on Friday, September 28, 2018, 6:30-8:30pm.

If you participated in the sewing circle that brought this project to life, this is your opening reception too. I hope you can make it. The show will be up until January 27th, 2019.

DATE: Friday, September 28, 2018

TIME: 6:30-8:30pm.

LOCATION: 68 Elm Street, Summit NJ 07901

Visual Arts Center Show

Wonder Women Photo Shoot

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.