Sean Nichols will instruct attendees how to convert a photo portrait to a line drawing and then transfer that drawing to a larger piece of cloth via a projector. "When the image is transferred," Nichols explained, "We will then use a machine stitch to render that image onto the cloth with a linear material, most likely yarn and stripped scrap fabric. The final product will be a piece of cloth that could be incorporated into other larger projects outside of the Second Thursday session. This session is less about the final product and more about discussing the various methods and possibilities of the process of enlarging and rendering an image onto cloth."

Quilting and sewing take center stage at the Houston Center of Contemporary Craft’s summer exhibition opening May 28 in their gallery at 4848 Main St.

“Made to Last: The Legacy of the Jubilee Quilt Circle” is held in conjunction with The Collective’s 35th anniversary and features a selection of quilts made by current participants and founding members to celebrate the history of The Collective’s Jubilee Quilt Circle and to honor the quilting traditions and narratives of the African American Community.

The exhibition, which runs through September 10, celebrates the transformative process of quilting and the powerful connections this art form creates across generations. Serving as loving and creative embodiments of the members who made them, the quilts on view incorporate materials, narratives, and techniques from the past to build a lasting legacy for future generations.

Many reference symbolism, such as the coded patterns of the Underground Railroad quilts that guided travelers many years ago. Current members of The Collective often reflect on their ancestors’ preference for hand sewing over machine stitching, a contrast to the combination of techniques and free improvisation they currently use to add their own creative signatures to their works.

The quilts on view express a variety of stories and artistic styles. Established quilter Leslie Abrams relocated to Houston (continue)

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