“As an artist and curator, I firmly believe art has the capacity to touch the spirit, engage, educate and heal in ways that words alone cannot,” said Dr. Mazloomi, artist, historian, author and curator of We Are the Story: A Visual Response to Racism. “I cried for days after seeing the video of George Floyd’s murder. African Americans are crying out for fairness, justice, equality and for protection from brutal police. In response to that cry, and to help educate the public on brutality, inequities and racism in America, I was inspired to curate We Are the Story.”
Quilting is one of America’s most powerful art forms, with its widespread appeal and association with comfort, warmth and healing. Rather than reading history, viewers relate to it visually and can feel the passion, hope and heartache stitched into every piece of fabric. The artwork prompts a dialogue between the artist and the viewer, challenging existing notions and posing questions that can serve to move the discussion of racial reconciliation forward.
“Quilts and quilting are especially important to African American culture, because the art form was historically one of the few mediums accessible to marginalized groups to tell their own story, to provide warmth for their families and to empower them with a voice,” added Dr. Mazloomi.
The exhibition is part of Story Quilts, a program initiative created by Kathy Wade that engages quilters to share their truths from the patchwork of their lives, weaving stories to create a tapestry of reconciliation and resilience.
We Are the Story: A Visual Response to Racism is free for Freedom Center Members and as an add-on to general admission for non-Members for $5 per adult and $3 per child. The exhibition is free for all guests on Wednesdays and Sundays, courtesy of the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation and Learning Through Art, Inc.
We Are the Story: A Visual Response to Racism is sponsored by the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation and Learning Through Art, Inc.
