If you’ve ever stepped into a room and felt generations speaking through fabric, that’s exactly what happened at the opening of Big Mama’s Quilting Circle; now on view at the Mississippi Arts Center in Jackson.
The exhibit, a celebration of storytelling through stitch, kicked off with an intimate gathering that felt more like a family reunion than an art opening. Chairs arranged in a soft circle welcomed guests into a living room-style conversation where lead quilter Stephany Brown and community members shared stories, wisdom, and laughs.
The quilts themselves? Vibrant. Textured. Emotional. Each one, a narrative in fabric. From meticulously layered geometric patterns to freeform, improvisational pieces, the gallery is alive with personality.
Big Mama’s Quilting Circle is more than an exhibit—it’s a community practice. Stephany Brown, who leads the quilting circle at Briarwood Arts Center, teaches not just quilting techniques but what she calls the “10 P’s” of creative life: patience, perseverance, promise, practice, passion, presence, purpose, peace, prayer, and pride. Her approach reminds us that making is healing, and that art grows stronger when passed from hand to hand.
This exhibit is a love letter to that process. To the elders who taught us. To the neighbors who gather. To the little ones watching quietly, soaking it all in.
Big Mama’s Quilting Circle is on view now at the Mississippi Arts Center. Want in on the stitching circle? You can join the community at Briarwood Arts Center.
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