The Unintended Beauty of Textiles

On View: Wednesday, March 4 - Friday, April 10, 2026

First Friday Reception: March 6, 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Artist Talk: Saturday, March 14, 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm

Fiber artists often remark about how they like the backside of their work better than the front side that they planned, designed, and labored over. The backside of fiber arts pieces are often quite beautiful in an unexpected, unintentional, and raw way. It exposes the mechanics of its making, its flaws, knots, bleeding colors, and muted hues. In this exhibit each textile artist is exhibiting multiple pieces - at least one piece shown with the intended side visible, and at least one exposing the backside. 

These artists each work with timely themes such as identity, gender, race, immigration, war, memory, ecology, etc. and although a great deal of thought, planning, and research go into their pieces, sometimes it is important to pause and appreciate the messy and unintended beauty of its making. 

The world is intense and exhausting these days, and it is the intent of this exhibit to give visitors the time and space to pause, slow down, and look at the beauty that presents itself in unexpected places and ways. 

Curated by Jody Alexander.

Exhibiting Artists: Douglas Baulos • Zak Foster • Carole Gelker • Lotta Helleberg • Lisa Hochstein • Peter Madden • Tracie Noles Ross • Rebecca Ringquest • Steph Rue • Sheri Schumacker

Spotlight Gallery Feature: Local quilters Ann Baldwin May and Lily Nash.