When thinking about “fine art,” many minds immediately envision paintings by the likes of Monet or Van Gogh.

But one artform – quilting – is finally being recognized as fine art, rather than just craft. African American quilters, in particular, are reclaiming the artform's history, after having been mischaracterized by scholars for decades.

A new Museum of Fine Arts, Boston exhibition, “Fabric of a Nation: American Quilt Stories” features over 300 years of American quilts, and other visual and tactile artworks. It especially focuses on works by an underrecognized diversity of artistic hands and minds from the 17th century to today.

The exhibition opened on October 10th and runs through January 17th, 2022.

GUESTS:

Jennifer Swope, associate curator of textile and fashion arts at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and exhibition curator of the MFA’s “Fabric of a Nation: American Quilt Stories.”

Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi, author, curator, quilter, and founder of African American Quilt Guild of Los Angeles and Women of Color Quilters Network. Dr. Mazloomi’s work “Strange Fruit II” is featured in the MFA’s “Fabric of a Nation” exhibition.

Gio Swaby, a Bahamian visual artist whose work centers on Black joy as a radical act of resistance. Her work “Love Letter 5” is featured in the MFA’s “Fabric of a Nation” exhibition.