And Still We Rise: Race, Culture and Visual Conversations

Using the powerful medium of story quilts, And Still We Rise: Race, Culture and Visual Conversations narrates nearly four centuries of African American history, from the first slave ships to the first African American president and beyond. Through 85 quilts from more than 60 artists of the Women of Color Quilters Network, the exhibition reveals the stories of freedom’s heroes, ranging from Phillis Wheatley to Frederick Douglass to the Tuskegee Airmen.

Story quilting is an art form that has derived in part from a long, rich history in Ohio and goes beyond the simple quilting patterns many people may be familiar with. Story quilting expands on traditional textile-arts techniques to record, in fabric, events of personal or historical significance. Through the accessibility of their colors, patterns and symbols, the quilts of “And Still We Rise” relate narratives that enable conversations about sensitive topics from our national history, furthering the discussion of racial reconciliation in America.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website

Whether you go or not, And Still We Rise: Race, Culture and Visual Conversations traces the path of black history in the United States with 97 original works exploring important events, places, people, and ideas over 400 years. Arranged in chronological order, quilt themes include the first enslaved people brought over by Dutch traders in 1619, the brave souls marching for civil rights, the ascendant influence of African American culture on the American cultural landscape, and the election of the first African American president. Other quilts commemorate and celebrate cultural milestones and memories, such as the first African American teacher, the Buffalo Soldier, the first black man to play Othello on Broadway, Muhammed Ali, and Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. The 69 artists who contributed works for this curated collection provide narrative explaining the important stories and histories behind the quilts.

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