San Diego People of Color Quilt Guild Challenge Quilt by Michelle Givens

Kisses by Gloria J. Hazel

Cultural Harmony by Rosemae Dyer

Afrocentric Display by Deshon Hall

Expressive Liberations

San Diego People of Color Quilt Guild

July 17 to October 3, 2021

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ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Expressive Liberations features art from The San Diego People of Color Quilt Guild (SDPoCQG). The works celebrate the opportunities presented by the pandemic. As the Guild explains,

“While the pandemic and Stay-At-Home Orders fostered concerns for our own safety, the safety of friends and loved ones and a sense of isolation within our guild, it also fostered new found time and the freedom to learn new quilting skills, practice old skills, complete old projects and create new ones. This exhibit represents some of the results of our time of renewal and enjoyment of our craft.”

The SDPoCQG was organized on February 22, 1997 as a forum for the continuation of the tradition of quilting as an art, a method to record history and storytelling, and a recognition of quilting as a true national art form equal to painting, sculpture, and the dramatic arts. Quilting has and always will be a part of the African American cultural heritage, and the SDPoCQG maintains and elevates this tradition.

The SDPoCQG has exhibited throughout San Diego, including in the San Diego Quilt Show and their own annual shows. The Guild has received recognition and certificates of merit from the Navy Marine Relief Society, the San Diego NAACP, former California State Assembly members, California State Senate members, the Mayor of San Diego, and the San Diego City Council President. Individual members have exhibited in other shows as well and received prizes for their work locally, nationally, and Internationally. Members have spoken, shared, displayed and taught the significance of quilts in African American history.

Now in its third decade, the first Guild meeting was held at the Malcolm X Library in 1997 and, with the exception of the pandemic period, monthly meetings continue at this location. On the last Saturday in February, the Guild holds a show which is free to the public. Proceeds from a quilt raffle are donated to the Library and Friends of the Library. At the end of the show, baby quilts created by members are donated to the Navy Marine Relief Society’s Layette Program.

EXHIBITION GALLERY

A Pieceful Place

Gloria J. Hazel

Afrocentric Display

Deshon Hall

Basking in the Garden

Patricia J. Kelly

Block on the Wall

Janice Miller

Cultural Harmony

Rosemae Dyer

Ebony Strength

Alahna Kellough

Floppy

Gloria J. Hazel

Illuminated L

Carol Ann Vorce

Kisses

Gloria J. Hazel

Mrembo

Gloria J. Hazel

Petals in the Wind

Alahna Kellough

Positivity

Alahna Kellough

Sammy

Gloria J. Hazel

Seaside

Alahna Kellough

Sisterly Love

Alahna Kellough

Sparkle

Gloria J. Hazel