(New York, New York) The American Folk Art Museum (2 Lincoln Square , New York, New York) is partnering with Harlem Needle Arts and The Africa Center for a free summer workshop series inspired by the current exhibition, What That Quilt Knows About Me.
This four-part series will take place from early June to mid-August. The program will begin on June 3rd at the Museum with a private tour of What That Quilt Knows About Me followed by a series of quilting workshops at The Africa Center (1280 5th Ave, New York, New York) inspired by the work of three contemporary textile artists: Laura R. Gadson, Sylvia Hernandez, and Dindga McCannon.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Harlem Needle Arts and The Africa Center to bring these incredible textile artists and their practice to the Harlem community,” said Claudia Maturell, Community Engagement Educator at the American Folk Art Museum. “This series will allow AFAM to expand upon its mission to engage with artists and organizations that inspire scholarship, creativity, and community across New York City.”
This series is free to the public and all materials will be provided for each of the quilt-making workshops. For more information and to register, please email Claudia Maturell at cmaturell@folkartmuseum.org. See below for the full schedule.
Schedule
Private tour of What That Quilt
Knows About Me with Assistant Curator
Sadé Ayorinde.
Hand Piecing Quilt Workshop with
Laura R. Gadson.
Whimsical Portrait Quilt Block with
Sylvia Hernandez.
Quilt In A Day with Dindga McCannon.
About the Artists
Laura R. Gadson is a quilt, fiber and mixed media artist who explores and often blends the worlds of quilting, felting, painting, collage and more as a result of her love affair with textiles and paper and a variety of materials. Gadson co-founder of the Harlem Aesthetic, an entrepreneurial venture that showcases artists and artisans of the African Diaspora at the Gadson Gallery. Sylvia Hernández is a celebrated and self-taught master quilter. She creates timeless, handcrafted works that address community and human rights issues. Dindga McCannon is a painter, printmaker, muralist, wearable art designer, author, illustrator, quilter, mixed media artist. She mixes and combines combinations of these media to produce what she calls Art Quilts. Her quilt, Mary Lou Williams–Jazz Pianist is currently on view in the exhibition What That Quilt Knows About Me.
About the American Folk Art Museum
The American Folk Art Museum engages people of all backgrounds through its collections, exhibitions, publications, and programs as the leading forum shaping the understanding and appreciation of folk and self-taught art across time and place.
About Harlem Needle Arts
Harlem Needle Arts (HNA) is an arts and cultural organization at the forefront of revolutionizing, preserving, and expanding the narrative of fiber, textile, design, and needle arts in the African Diaspora through exhibitions, education, technical support, economic development, and other tools. HNA’s artistic vision of needle arts enhances identity, promotes dexterity, and strengthens individual pride in one’s ability to create through fiber/textile art forms, while fusing history and art therapy.
About The Africa Center
The Africa Center is transforming the world’s understanding of Africa, its Diaspora, and the role of people of African descent in the world. Serving as the hub for the exchange of ideas related to the continent, and in the spirit of collaboration with individuals and institutions who share our values, The Africa Center inspires enthusiasm, advances thought, and empowers action around Africa’s global impact on our collective futures.
Images: Laura R. Gadson, Big City Rose, 2023, Sylvia Hernandez, Whimsical Faces, 2023, Dindga McCannon, Women in Jazz #14, 2023.