Cary Town Hall | 316 N Academy St
February 4 – March 27, 2026
Medium: Fibers
Inspired by the mission of Matthew 25 churches’ call to dismantle racism, they chose to honor African American women with Wake County roots living during Reconstruction through the Civil Rights era—women who, in spite of overwhelming societal limitations, found ways to develop and use their skills to improve the lives of their families and countless others.
Among the 11 quilt honorees are educators, activists, servicewomen, librarians, authors, business owners, and musicians. Four have strong connections to Raleigh’s Oberlin Village, where Wilson Temple has been located since 1865. Developed in the 1860s through 1970, Oberlin Village is the longest surviving and most intact Reconstruction-Era freedmen’s colony in North Carolina.
The project’s nine-month creative journey taken by local women learning and supporting each other while lifting up past leaders, attests to the community threads that connect us all. The makers hope you enjoy their artistic interpretations of these amazing women and that you leave this exhibit inspired by their contributions. https://www.westraleighpres.org/quilt-show
