“Quiltmaking is a tradition and a mode of expression that is both intimate and esteemed. Every human being has an intimate relationship with cloth. It is the first thing we are swathed in at birth, and the last thing that touches our body upon our death. Through the nuance of textiles, difficult stories can reach audiences across identities and generations from a place of care, hearth, peace, and nurture.”
—Carolyn Mazloomi
Carolyn Mazloomi’s black-and-white quilts catalyze ideas illustrated in her diaries and sketchbooks, where she embarks on in-depth explorations into the lives of freedom fighters. From these pages, her drawings are printed onto cotton fabric in rich, black ink reminiscent of the bold graphics captured in woodblock prints and indelible photographs reproduced in newspapers. During the labor-intensive process of appliqué — a technique for creating shapes by sewing on fabric patches — Mazloomi builds the compelling and complex narratives of Black trailblazers, memorializing their stories for the future generations. Each quilt is framed by a patchwork border — kaleidoscopic, geometric patterns that celebrate the quilting community and those craft traditions that she has made significant contributions to as a curator, author, and community organizer.
As in a newspaper, the clear and bold black color ensures that no dimension of decoration distracts from an impactful and memorable portrait of these individual’s lives. Throughout the quilts, circular motifs recur — symbols of perpetual, enduring life cycles. In a time where the histories of race, gender, and class are at risk of being erased from education by conservative forces in politics, Mazloomi’s works serve as a seminal teacher. She is an artist who activates her practice to ensure that no oppressive body can suppress, or erase, the legacy of Americans who put their lives at risk to ensure a brighter future for their people. These quilts are shrines to acts of inimitable bravery, resilience, compassion, brilliance, and kindness.
