Kindred Spirits: A Convergence of African American Quilters

On Juneteenth weekend, 2023, dozens of African American quilters from across the country gathered in Durham, NC for three days of sisterhood, exploration, and fun. Directed by RCWMS Artist in Residence Kimberley Pierce Cartwright, the conference celebrated a vibrant community of African American quilters. Participants enjoyed workshops led by renowned artists Aisha Lumumba, Cookie Washington, Kena Dorsey, and Kianga Jinaki.

One highlight (among many!) of the conference was the Friday night pop-up quilt show, Deconstructing the Mammy Archetype Through African American Quilt Work, which was open to the public and drew more than 450 people. We invite you to read Kimberley’s blog post about African American quilting, Kindred Spirits, and the pop-up show.

Durham’s INDYweek explored the genesis of the event, and the beginning of collective African American quilt circles, with Cartwright and others central to the conference.

We invite you to view more Kindred Spirits photos here! Many thanks to all those who made this event possible, and especially to Kimberley Pierce Cartwright for her leadership.