The Contemporary Dayton Presents Threads of History: Quilts by Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi

The Contemporary Dayton, in partnership with the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, is proud to present Threads of History: Quilts by Carolyn Mazloomi, a landmark solo exhibition celebrating the extraordinary career of award-winning artist, historian, curator, and activist Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi. On view from June 12 through September 12, 2026, the exhibition highlights Mazloomi's powerful black-and-white pictorial quilts honoring the lives and legacies of African American freedom fighters and cultural leaders.

Now an octogenarian, Dr. Mazloomi remains one of the most influential voices in contemporary quilting and a pioneering advocate for African American quilt traditions. Through striking imagery and layered narrative, her quilts preserve stories of resilience, resistance, and remembrance while positioning quilting as both fine art and historical record.

Originally trained as an aerospace engineer, Mazloomi shifted her focus in the 1980s to champion the work of African American quilt artists whose contributions had long been overlooked. As founder of the Women of Color Quilters Network, she has reshaped the cultural landscape through decades of scholarship, mentorship, curatorial work, and community building. Her achievements have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Bess Lomax Hawes NEA National Heritage Fellowship, a United States Artists Fellowship, and an American Craft Council Honorary Fellowship. Her work is held in major collections including the Smithsonian Institution and the American Folk Art Museum.

Figures included in Dr. Mazloomi's quilts in the exhibition include Ahmaud Arbery, Ruby Bridges, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Frederick Douglass, George Floyd, Fannie Lou Hamer, Henrietta Lacks, John Lewis, Richard and Mildred Loving, Elijah McClain, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Harry and Henrietta Moore, Huey P. Newton, Black Panther Party, Bobby Seale, George Stinney, Sojourner Truth, Breonna Taylor, Emmett Till, Malcolm X, and The Little Rock Nine. Historical events illustrated in her work include Black Wall Street, Brown v. Board of Education, The Green Book, and The Voting Rights Act.

In conjunction with the exhibition, The Contemporary Dayton will present a series of free public programs designed to deepen engagement with Mazloomi's work and its broader cultural and historical themes. Programs include an opening reception and meet-and-greet with the artist, and a public lecture and discussion led by scholar and curator Dr. Sharbreon Plummer, examining cultural histories and the role of art and craft in democracy, particularly in relation to the current political climate and Mazloomi's work within U.S. history.

Additional programming will include an activation of Yellow Springs-based artist Migiwa Orimo's People's Banner Workshop, a community protest banner-making workshop. Inspired by the bold visual language and narratives within Mazloomi's quilts, Orimo's ongoing project provides free visual aids including banners, signs, and props, for direct action, protest rallies, picket lines, and other street actions supporting social justice.

"As Dayton's contemporary art center, we are honored to present the work of Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi and celebrate her transformative contributions to American art and cultural history," said Heather Jones, Curator and Director of Programs and Engagement.

"Threads of History reflects our ongoing commitment to inclusion, access, and presenting exhibitions that foster dialogue, reflection, and community connection."

Joni Doherty, Senior Program Officer for Democracy and the Arts at the Charles F. Kettering Foundation states, "The foundation is delighted to be partnering with The Contemporary Dayton during their season of celebrating freedom of expression. The Threads of History exhibition of quilts by Carolyn Mazloomi is one example of this gallery's recognition of the role of the arts in an inclusive democracy and of acknowledging our complex and complicated struggle to realize those freedoms for everyone."

All exhibitions and public programs at The Contemporary Dayton are free and open to the public.

Public Programs

Opening Reception

Friday, June 12, 2026 | 6–8 pm Welcome remarks by the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, 6:15 pm Remarks by the artist, 6:30 pm Free and open to all.

Quilts as Witness: Carolyn Mazloomi and the Power of Cultural Memory

Thursday, September 10, 2026 | 6:30 pm

Dr. Sharbreon Plummer is a public scholar, curator, writer, and interdisciplinary artist whose work explores Black art history, craft and material studies, southern folkways, and cultural memory. In this lecture, Dr. Plummer will examine cultural histories and the role of art and craft in democracy, particularly in relation to the current political climate and Mazloomi's work within U.S. history.

A native of South Louisiana, she has spent more than fifteen years developing programs and initiatives that support artists and communities of the global majority whose work advances freedom, liberation, and social change. Dr. Plummer's latest publication, Stories in the Seams: A People's History of Black Quilts and Their Makers, will be released in October, 2026.

Free and open to all.

Also on View: Rhythm of Change at Troy-Hayner Cultural Center

The Troy-Hayner Cultural Center will join forces with I.D.E.A. Troy and community partners for a special exhibit, Rhythm of Change: The Transformative Power of Black Art, 1619–Present. The exhibit maps the visual flow of cultural change in America from 1619 to the present day and explores how Black artists, religious leaders, and activists worked within their spheres of influence to transform Ohio and our nation. Drawing on deeply rooted African traditions, interpreting contemporary challenges, and painting a way forward into a better future, Rhythm of Change explores some of the voices who laid down the beat of change. We will explore the epic of music, art, literature, dance, the pulpit, the stage, the screen and so much more.

An exhibit opening reception will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 3:00 PM–5:00 PM featuring refreshments, music, and an opportunity to experience the exhibit together as a community.

Rhythm of Change will be on display at the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center from June 12 through August 9, 2026 and will be available free of charge during regular open hours.

The graphic panels in this exhibit were researched and designed by the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center (NAAMCC) and a class of graduate students from Wright State University's Public History concentration. NAAMCC is located in Wilberforce, Ohio and is part of the Ohio History Connection's site system. Its mission is to help preserve and present Black history with regularly changing history, art, and cultural exhibits. The NAAMCC opened to the public in April 1988 and is the permanent home of one of the nation's largest collections of African American material culture, with over 9,000 artifacts and artworks, 350 manuscript collections, and thousands of photographs. Items include Alex Haley's typewriter and his final draft of Roots, Brigadier General Charles Young's uniform, Gregory Hines's tap shoes, an extensive art collection representing the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s, and a vast number of Black dolls, including the recently donated Lillian Bartok Collection. Learn more about the NAAMCC at the Ohio History Connection website.

This exhibit is primarily sponsored through a grant provided by America 250-Ohio with support from the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center and community partners.

As part of Troy's Juneteenth celebrations, the community is also invited to gather for additional events throughout the month. A free kickoff concert featuring the Deron Bell Band will take place at the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center on Friday, June 19, with light hors d'oeuvres and hibiscus punch beginning at 6:30 PM and music at 7:00 PM. Celebrations continue on Saturday, June 20 with the Juneteenth Community Celebration at McKaig & Race Park from 3:00 PM–6:00 PM, following a community walk from First Place Christian Center.

The Troy-Hayner Cultural Center is proudly supported by the citizens of the Troy City School District through a local tax levy and generous gifts to the Friends of Hayner.

Troy-Hayner Cultural Center is located at 301 West Main Street, Troy, OH 45373. Hours of operation are Monday 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Tuesday – Thursday 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Friday and Saturday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, and Sunday 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM. The Hayner Center is closed on holidays. For more information, visit our website at troyhayner.org or call (937) 339-0457.