MADISON, Wis. – Madison Children’s Museum will present Soulful Stitching: Patchwork Quilts by Africans of India, an exhibit on display through the end of March. These vibrant and colorful quilts, known as kawandi, are displayed in MCM’s Community Concourse, a free public space located on the first floor of the museum.
Hand-crafted by African women — or Siddi — living in India, the intricate quilts stitch together recycled clothing and blend the creators’ traditions of African descent and Indian culture. Kawandi are considered functional works of art and are displayed so that children and adults have the opportunity to feel the embroidery, textures, and materials of each quilt.
All quilts on display at the children’s museum are for sale with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Siddi Women’s Quilting Cooperative of Northern Karnataka, India. This display has been featured at the UW-Madison’s Design Gallery, the Museum of Art & Design, and the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco. Showcasing these quilts around the U.S is made possible through the scholarship and advocacy efforts of Henry Drewal, Evjue-Bascom Professor in the Departments of Art History and Afro-American Studies at the UW-Madison.
Founded in 1980, Madison Children’s Museum (MCM) is an award-winning organization whose hands-on exhibits and programs celebrate and encourage children’s imaginations and the power of play as the cornerstone of learning. MCM is a proud recipient of the 2011 National Medal for Museum Service form the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
