I curated Let the Fabric Speak! for the Fleming Museum of Art in partnership with the Howard Center Arts Collective. For this exhibition, Howard Center artists created new works that examine the material and metaphorical significance of repurposed fabric, as well as celebrate the similarities between the weave of cloth and the ties that bind communities together.

"Our fabrics tell the stories of who we were, where we lived and traveled to, who we remember, and why we won’t forget them. And the sources of the fabric remind us of the past: a skirt worn for an entire decade; a hat woven by a father; curtains that tinted the sunlight green, as it entered a home; and a treasured basket that couldn’t be thrown out, despite its many holes. 

. . . 

In October 2023, sixteen members of the Howard Center Arts Collective came together for a fabric swap. Stockings, dresses, T-shirts, pajamas, and even a wedding veil were among the fabrics that changed hands, passed along stories, and from which new original artworks were created. As you pass through the Fleming’s Marble Court Balcony and spend time with each artwork, listen with your eyes, and let the fabric speak."

~ Howard Center Arts Collective

Members of the Howard Center Arts Collective work together to ensure that there are opportunities for artists who have experience with mental health and/or substance use challenges to connect, create, and exhibit work. We strive to create a supportive, non-hierarchical community that fosters mutuality, creative expression, and empowerment.

The Arts Collective values the transformative power of the creative process on a personal, social, and systemic level, and acknowledges that we are stronger when everyone has a voice.