PHILADELPHIA, PA — Stories of family, cultural heritage, loss and personal identity are taking shape through fabric, thread and found materials at InLiquid Gallery, where seven artists are transforming traditional textile techniques into expressions of memory and human experience.
The exhibition, Let’s begin in the middle, brings together contemporary fiber artists whose work explores how personal histories connect with broader cultural traditions. Presented in conjunction with CraftNOW’s CraftMONTH celebration, the exhibition is on view through Nov. 28, 2026, at the South Kensington gallery.
Through quilting, embroidery, crochet, and other textile practices, the participating artists examine how materials can preserve memories, document lived experiences, and connect generations.
The exhibition also highlights Philadelphia’s growing recognition as a center for contemporary craft.
In July 2026, Etsy and the Center for Craft designated Philadelphia a Craft Hub and awarded five regional organizations, including InLiquid, a combined $500,000 through the inaugural Craft Catalyst Initiative.
The funding supports organizations working to strengthen and sustain the region’s craft community.
Seven Artists, Seven Perspectives on Memory
Each artist approaches the exhibition’s central themes through distinctive materials, techniques, and personal experiences.
Beau McCall uses upcycled denim to acknowledge the history of enslaved cotton and indigo workers. His work connects that history with contemporary narratives representing his community.
Rebecca Kelly draws on ancestral techniques associated with Pennsylvania, using traditional practices to create works that function as a visual memoir of her memories and experiences.
Julie Woodard transforms found and reused materials into textile compositions that evoke natural and constructed environments. Her work explores connections to lost loved ones and moments from the past.
Caitlin McCormack creates sculptural crochet pieces inspired by personal folklore, mythology, trauma, and memory. Her work brings familiar textile techniques into three-dimensional forms.
Bren Ahearn uses embroidery samplers to document both significant life milestones and the ordinary routines that shape everyday experience.
Amy Orr explores illness, vision impairment, and grief through her textile work. Her Twist Tie Quilt series records experiences associated with illness, while other works incorporate bones to examine family memories and collective loss.
Barbara Schulman creates large-format quilts that explore the expressive possibilities of textiles. Her approach emphasizes spontaneity and the ability of fabric-based art to communicate a broad range of human experiences.
Together, the seven artists demonstrate how fiber art can move beyond decorative or functional traditions to become a means of recording personal and collective histories.
Celebrating Philadelphia’s Craft Community
The exhibition coincides with CraftMONTH, CraftNOW’s citywide celebration of Philadelphia’s craft history and contemporary makers.
The annual initiative brings attention to artists and organizations working across traditional and experimental craft disciplines.
For InLiquid, the exhibition provides an opportunity to connect visitors with artists who use familiar materials in unexpected ways.
Textiles have long played a role in preserving cultural knowledge, from techniques passed between generations to handmade objects associated with family and community traditions.
Let’s begin in the middle builds on that history by presenting works that explore both inherited practices and individual experiences.
The exhibition’s focus on memory also encourages visitors to consider the stories connected to ordinary materials and the ways handmade objects can preserve personal histories.
An opening reception is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 12, from 6 to 9 p.m., offering visitors an opportunity to experience the exhibition as part of Philadelphia’s broader celebration of craft.
Event Details
- What: Let’s begin in the middle, a contemporary fiber arts exhibition featuring Beau McCall, Rebecca Kelly, Julie Woodard, Caitlin McCormack, Bren Ahearn, Amy Orr and Barbara Schulman
- When: On view through Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. An opening reception is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 12, from 6 to 9 p.m.
- Where: InLiquid Gallery, South Kensington, Philadelphia, PA. A specific street address was not included in the announcement.
- Cost/Tickets: Admission pricing was not specified. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP for the opening reception.
- More Info: Reception RSVP information is available at https://inliquid.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F
For visitors interested in contemporary art, textile traditions or Philadelphia’s creative community, the exhibition offers an opportunity to explore how artists transform everyday materials into works that preserve meaningful experiences.
From denim carrying the weight of historical memory to quilts documenting personal challenges, Let’s begin in the middle demonstrates how the act of making can connect individual stories with the experiences of generations.
The exhibition remains on view through Nov. 28, providing several weeks for visitors to discover the artists and their approaches to storytelling through fiber.
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