Two events celebrate Minnesota books that inspire artists

May 15—Books that inspire artists will be celebrated Thursday, May 20, by Textile Center/Women of Color Quilters Network and ArtReach St. Croix in separate events.

Textile Center's book and exhibit, "We Are the Story," are a response to George Floyd's death. ArtReach St. Croix honors Hmong writing and heritage inspired by Kao Kalia Vang's Minnesota Book Award-winning "The Latehomecomer."

"WE ARE THE STORY"

Celebrating release of "We Are the Story: A Visual Response to Racism," Minneapolis-based Textile Center and Women of Color Quilters Network (WCQN) present a virtual event hosted by author/curator Carolyn L. Mazloomi at 4 p.m. Thursday via Zoom. The free discussion will focus on the 254-page, soft-cover book published Wednesday. To register go to: textilecentermn.org.

Designed by WCQN member Carolyn Crump, the book presents statements from artists who made "We Are the Story" a reality in the months that followed George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020.

When Minneapolis became the epicenter of the nationwide protest movement against police brutality and racism following Floyd's death, Textile Center and WCQN joined forces to create "We Are the Story," a multi-venue quilt exhibit initiative in the Twin Cities.

The book catalogs the 122 quilts that were part of two juried group and four solo exhibitions presented in Minneapolis since September 2020, and its release coincides with the seventh and final quilt exhibition, "Racism: In the Face of Hate We Resist," currently at Textile Center, 3000 University Ave. S.E., Minneapolis.

This juried show, featuring 63 quilts, runs through June 12. It is free and open to the public but reservations are required at textilecentermn.org.

"Our citizens are crying out for protection, comfort, and education," Mazloomi said in a prepared statement about Floyd's killing. "In response to that cry, and to help educate the public on brutality, inequities, and racism in America ... we wanted the exhibition quilts to tell the unsung stories that affect our understanding and inspire our resolve to end this unholy trinity of social ills. Our group and solo (quilt) exhibitions in 'We Are the Story' were organized around the themes of remembering those lost to police brutality, history of civil rights, and racism in America." (For more details about the initiative go to: textilecentermn.org/wearethestory.)

Women of Color Quilters Network was founded by Mazloomi in 1985, honoring the artistic expression that African American women have put into their quilts for generations. The nonprofit, national organization's mission is to educate, preserve, exhibit, promote, and document quilts made by African Americans.

Textile Center bills itself as America's national center for fiber art, with a mission to honor textile traditions, promote excellence and innovation, and inspire widespread participation in fiber arts.

"We Are the Story: A Visual Response to Racism," published by Paper Moon Publishing, is $40. Copies will be available in Textile Center's in-person shop beginning Wednesday.

"THE LATE HOMECOMER"

In honor of Kao Kalia Yang's memoir "The Latehomecomer," this year's featured book for the NEA Big Read in St. Croix Valley, there will be two exhibitions at ArtReach St. Croix's galleries, 224 N. Fourth St., Stillwater, featuring children's book illustrations and wearable art.

The exhibitions — "Go Within" and "Go On" — share Hmong storytelling traditions and combine to connect visitors with Yang's award-winning story of how her family escaped the war in Laos and began new lives as refugees in Minnesota.

Both exhibits open to the public at 6 p.m. Thursday as part of the NEA Big Read Kick-off & Exhibition opening. Besides viewing the art and meeting the artists, guests can pre-order a boxed meal from the kitchen of Chef Yia Vang or shop from a selection of spices, sauces and purple rice kits available in the ArtReach Gift Gallery. (Registration information about the opening reception and pre-ordering boxed meals can be found at: artreachstcroix.org/register.)

"Go Within" offers a chance to see original art from two of Yang's children's books, "Yang Warriors," illustrated by Billy Thao, and "The Shared Room," illustrated by first-generation Hmong American artist and illustrator Xee Reiter.

The exhibition "Go On," curated by Ashaley Yang and Sai Chang, is a tribute showcase of traditional Hmong clothing from different decades and a collection of designs by Hmong American designers across the country that offer a modern take on the traditional.

" 'Go On' illustrates the overarching themes of 'The Latehomecomer' through a fashion lens," curator Sai Chang said in a prepared release. "This allows us to honor Hmong womxn/women and consider how we preserve identity and culture amidst change."

The two exhibits will be on view through June 27. The galleries at ArtReach St. Croix are free and open to the public Wednesday-Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.