Traveling Exhibition
African American Fiber Art
This traveling exhibition features African American fiber artists from across the nation.
Organized by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, created and curated by award-winning and nationally exhibiting textile artist, Torreah “Cookie” Washington, this unique exhibition offers African American fiber artists an opportunity to showcase their original and innovative designs executed in a variety of traditional and non-traditional fiber techniques. Pieces are selected by the curator at the close of the exhibition to create a traveling exhibition for the South Carolina State Museum’s Traveling Exhibitions Program.
Ancestor worship is a central custom of African religion and is practiced throughout the African Diaspora. In addition to their deep reverence for elders, followers of traditional African religion believe the ancestors maintain a spiritual connection to and powerful influence on their living relatives, and their wisdom is considered invaluable. No matter your culture or background, the act of honoring ancestors is sacred, and we can all benefit from recognizing and respecting our lineage. This year’s theme aims to honor legends of the Diaspora, known and unknown, whose lives and sacrifices gave birth to our many celebrated accomplishments and have carried us to the present. Fiber pieces in this 18th annual exhibition will cover a vast range of topics that have great significance for the African American community, highlighting figures from our collective African American history, as well as from the artists’ own family history.
This year’s traveling exhibition features 31 fiber art pieces.
About the Curator
We are pleased to welcome back Torreah “Cookie” Washington as the curator for this annual exhibition. Cookie is an award-winning master art quilter and curator. She was born in Rabat, Morocco, and has traveled extensively, creating with textiles for more than a quarter of a century. A fourth generation textile artist, Cookie’s mother, grandmother, and great grandmother were all experienced quilters, fashion designers, and master tailors. Cookie has lived in the South Carolina Lowcountry for 30 years and is excited by the now thriving arts community. Her current passion is fiber art muralism that celebrates the Divine Feminine and the contributions of her African ancestral heritage.
Schedule
Aug. – Sept. 2025
Dorchester Heritage Center
Upcoming
Oct. 2025
South Carolina State Library
Nov. 2025
Available
Dec. 2025 – Jan. 2026
Brookgreen Gardens
Feb. – March 2026
The Museum - Greenwood