Join us for a special Art Speaks with Professor Tracy Vaughn-Manley on the history of African American quilting traditions. In many cultures, quilts have not only been produced and used as utilitarian objects, but also as tactile repositories of history. They serve as tangible historical markers of a specific generation or rite-of-passage as well as textile narratives—telling the stories of a particular group, region, and/or culture through fabric and design. Quilt making has been and continues to be an act of empowerment and agency for women throughout the world. The cultural history embodies in quilts remind us of how far we have come; how integral quilts are to heal from the wounds of the past; and how these humble utilitarian objects are foundational to the survival of our families, homes, and communities. 

Friday, April 25, 12 - 1 pm
Virtual Talk on Zoom
Pricing: Sliding scale, Free, $15, $30

Dr. Tracy Vaughn-Manley (she/her) is an assistant professor and a Charles Deering McCormick Distinguished Professor of Instruction in the Department of Black Studies at Northwestern University. Her research interests include the work of Toni Morrison, 20th and 21st-Century Black women's literature, the Harlem Renaissance, and Black quilting traditions. She is also an accomplished quilt artist/scholar.