We Are the Story: Protest Series
Quilts by Penny Mateer, Pittsburgh, PA

Virtual Exhibition

“The Protest Series grew out of my love of protest music released in the 1960s and 70s – music that inspired people to think, question, and take action. After we entered into war with Iraq, I began to think about what have we learned as a country since Vietnam. Does history repeat itself? Do we need to revisit it? Over time, I’ve expanded into economic and social justice issues. I choose a popular traditional quilt block and pair it with a topic. I challenge myself to find commercial fabric relative to that topic in order to create a roadmap of symbols that prompt the viewer to think about the theme of the work.”

Curated by Carolyn L. Mazloomi, this exhibition was part of Textile Center and Women of Color Quilters Network’s We Are the Story initiative, on view at Weisman Art Museum through May 16, 2021. These quilts, along with the artist’s statement, are included in the book We Are the Story: A Visual Response to Racism by Carolyn L. Mazloomi, and it is available for purchase through Textile Center’s retail shop or online. (Click here to order.)

Photos courtesy of Weisman Art Museum:

Individual Quilts

Fight the Power! #15 Protest Series
A collaboration with Martha Wasik
2018
58″ x 77″
Commercial fabric, hand-cut newspaper collage, digital print, hand embroidered, machine pieced and quilted
Photo by Larry Berman

George Floyd
2020
79″ x 59″
Hand-cut newspaper collage, digital print on fleece blanket
Photo by Larry Berman

THIS Revolution Will Not Be, Televised. #r3 Protest Series
A collaboration with Martha Wasik
2015
94″ x 77″
Photo transfer, custom and commercially printed fabric, machine pieced, appliquéd and quilted
Photo by Larry Berman