The Must-See
Stitching Black Legacy: The Quilts of Carolyn Mazloomi
Website: Textile Center: Stitching Black Legacy
Who: The Textile Center
When: Now - July 12
Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm
Open until 7 pm on Thursday
Where: The Textile Center, 3000 University Ave SE, Mpls
When my first child was born, I started quilting because I needed something to keep me busy and I was still in a stage where I thought I should only make crafts that would be “useful.” Two years later, I had twelve quilt tops and one finished quilt, so you can judge how truly useful it all was. That said, I thought I knew a little bit about quilting until 25 years later I was fortunate enough to see Bisa Butler’s amazing Portraits exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago. Her work is literal stories in fabric, and though I bought a print you really have to stand close and see the stitches to truly experience her work.
Because I think you can only truly see quilt art in person, I’m so excited to share the work of another icon of narrative quiltmaking, Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi, at the Textile Center in St Paul. The quilts, rendered almost entirely in black and white, “reflect the lives of Black civil rights activists, leaders, and revolutionaries who shaped American history.” These include a quilt that tells the story of those who have been killed by racist acts of violence such as George Floyd and others. The overlap of the exhibit with the anniversary of his death was unintentional, but provides us with a powerful way to acknowledge this history and learn from its legacy.
Things to know
- Parking: The Textile Center has two parking lots - I’ll let them explain where they are.
- Dining: Tea House just down University is truly some of the best Chinese food in a town full of good Chinese food. My favorite dish is the Sole Fillet with Scallion, and anything accompanying sake.
- Attire: Wear basic jeans and a tshirt, then stop into the Textile Center shop and buy one of these jackets. Throw it on and you’ll stand out while blending in.
- Accessibility: ADA accessible; Audio assistance devices available during events
The Discovery
While you’re exploring stories in this part of town, you should leave time to check out the mural collection in the Creative Enterprise Zone. There are over 70 murals in a relatively small district (easily walkable), and new ones in process. Breweries and restaurants are all available for breaks on your tour. They’ve made it easy with a map of all you can see!
Field Notes
I’m not a city planner myself, but have somehow found myself to be extremely planner-adjacent in my current professional endeavors. One thing I love about planning is that planners think a lot about what could be, and why we’d want it that way. Ben Shardlow is the board chair for the Creative Enterprise Zone (the one with all the murals), and I appreciate his thoughts on what could be and why it should matter to all of us. Check out his recent article about the closing of the recycling plant on University in St Paul (if you’ve ever noticed the interesting scents in that area, you’ve noticed the recycling plant) , and the opportunity it could provide for us all.
