The 19th Annual African American Fiber Art Exhibition opened on April 29 in Charleston, South Carolina, featuring over 70 artists from 22 states under the theme 'Regal Threads: The Majesty of Blue and Purple.' Curated by Torreah 'Cookie' Washington, the juried exhibition explores the spiritual and historical significance of blue and purple in African diasporic traditions. Among the works is Donnette Cooper's quilt 'He's Royal: Kingsley George Lawton Cooper,' honoring her late brother Kingsley, who died in June 2024, incorporating the adinkra symbol Nyame Nwu Na Mawu and referencing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s eulogy.
This exhibition matters because it reclaims fiber art—often marginalized in fine art contexts—as a powerful medium for cultural memory, spiritual expression, and social commentary. By centering blue and purple as symbols of resilience and divine inheritance, the show challenges traditional hierarchies of art materials and elevates African American quilting traditions. It also personalizes broader themes of loss and legacy through Donnette Cooper's tribute to her brother, connecting contemporary grief to historical struggles for justice.