Podcast Summary: All Of It – "Figures From Black History Illustrated Through Textile Arts"

Host: Alison Stewart
Guests: Carolyn Mazloomi (quilter, artist), Claire Oliver (curator, Claire Oliver Gallery)
Date: February 11, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode explores the art of quilting as a medium for telling African American histories and social commentary, focusing on the exhibition "Certain Restrictions Do Apply" at the Claire Oliver Gallery in Harlem. Host Alison Stewart is joined by pioneering quilt artist Carolyn Mazloomi and gallery curator Claire Oliver. Together, they discuss how quilts serve as both art and activism, how storytelling through textiles immortalizes figures from Black history, and the importance of accessible visual narratives during a time of cultural and political debate.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Carolyn Mazloomi’s Journey into Quilting

• From Aerospace Engineering to Quilt Making
  • Mazloomi began her career in aerospace engineering but found greater fulfillment in quilting:
    • Quote: "I wasn't really necessarily happy in that...once you get started, you just—you just can't stop. And I so much enjoy it because it's a way for me to tell stories." (01:28-02:08)
  • Her fascination with quilts began after seeing them made by a Kentucky cooperative, inspiring her to shift from difficult geometric patterns to narrative quilts.
    • Quote: "As an engineer, that's quite vexing when you see all these mishapped squares and triangles that don't meet. So…I'm getting rid of the squares and the geometrics and just concentrate on narratives." (03:34-05:08)

The Power and Significance of Narrative Quilting

• Quilting as Storytelling and Social Commentary
  • Mazloomi’s quilts focus on visualizing African American history and social struggles, often using a direct black-and-white palette for emphasis.
    • Quote: "Black and white is very plain. It's in your face. There's nothing hidden. It's quite straightforward." (08:25-09:06)
  • She underscores the universal familiarity with fabric and quilts, using their comforting associations to present difficult topics:
    • Quote: "Most people here in this country are familiar with quilts, but they see them as something to keep themselves warm...So I feel what a wonderful way to tell these difficult stories using materials that we are familiar with." (15:44-16:45)

The Exhibition: "Certain Restrictions Do Apply"

• Exhibition Title and Theme

  • Title originates from a quilt by Mazloomi depicting the Statue of Liberty with a stop sign, representing selective immigration policies and social exclusion.
    • Curator’s View: Claire Oliver emphasizes the title’s role in prompting viewers to ask questions and engage in new conversations.
      • Quote: "Carolyn's work asks more questions than it answers...we hope that the people who come to see the quilts will ask more questions, and that will stimulate new conversations..." (05:18-06:01)
    • Artist’s Perspective: Mazloomi draws from historic and current immigration struggles, particularly focusing on restrictions faced by Haitians and immigrants from Africa and the Middle East.
      • Quote: "Certain restrictions do apply, but they don't apply equally to everybody." (06:30-07:39)

• Visual and Symbolic Choices

  • Use of black and white references both clarity of message and the pervasive role of race in America.
    • Quote: "Everything is about black and white. Everything is about race. Race enters into the fabric of everything that we do here in this country." (09:08-09:36)

Celebrating and Preserving Black History

• Subject Matter in the Exhibition

  • The show features quilts honoring:

    • Harriet Tubman ("first quilt you see”)
    • Madame C.J. Walker ("first woman millionaire in this country")
    • The Black Panthers ("feeding the poor and giving health care"), and pivotal moments (e.g., the first sit-in in North Carolina).
      • Quote: "I wanted to have quilts in the show that celebrated black history by telling stories, positive stories of contributions of African Americans to this culture, to this history." (12:09-14:08)

  • The show strives for balance between celebration and confrontation—uplifting achievement while not shying away from present struggles:

    • Quote: "Half of the quilts in the show celebrate important African Americans and their contributions... And then at the end, well, you have the two quilts that are not necessarily positive with good news, like 'Certain Restrictions Do Apply' and 'Uncle Sam'." (14:10-14:56)

• Community Engagement

  • The gallery’s move to Harlem was intended to foster deep engagement with local communities who recognize themselves in these stories.
    • Quote (Claire): "People come in, and they immediately start telling us the stories. They know those stories, and there is an interaction with the community..." (10:33-11:30)

Artistic Collaboration

• Partnership with Sharon Kerry Harlan
  • The exhibition includes works by Mazloomi’s friend Sharon Kerry Harlan, chosen to highlight the conversational nature of the pieces and the importance of multiple Black women’s voices.
    • Quote (Claire): "That was absolutely their idea. They were very longtime friends...their work will have a conversation...especially Black History Month and...what is going on in the country right now." (16:45-17:39)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Carolyn Mazloomi on Narrative Quilting:
  • "If I can draw, anybody can do it." (05:04)
• On Intersection of Quilts and American Identity:
  • "It's the first thing we're swathed in at birth and the last thing that touches our body upon our death." (16:21)
• On Timeliness and Erasure:
  • "It's really very important, too, for me, especially in this year, America 250...that our accomplishments as African Americans be duly noted, especially at a time when our history is trying to be erased every day." (12:36-13:30)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:09-01:28 – Introduction of guests, Mazloomi’s background and career shift
• 03:34-05:08 – Mazloomi’s realization as an artist; shift from geometric to narrative quilts
• 05:18-07:39 – Exhibition’s title meaning, discussion of selective inclusion/exclusion in America
• 08:25-09:36 – Mazloomi on black-and-white color schemes and symbolism
• 10:15-11:30 – Curatorial decisions and the interactive aspect of community engagement
• 12:09-14:08 – Stories behind the Harriet Tubman quilt and the importance of historical preservation
• 14:56-16:45 – Addressing difficult subjects and the universality of fabric as storytelling medium
• 16:45-17:39 – The inclusion of Sharon Kerry Harlan and the significance of dual artistic voices

Conclusion

This rich and heartfelt conversation gives listeners a deeper understanding of how textile arts and quilting can function as powerful vessels for culture, activism, and memory in America. Carolyn Mazloomi’s approach to narrative quilting sheds light on the labor of remembrance—and the vital role of Black women’s artistry in preserving and propelling the stories of Black history forward. The exhibition "Certain Restrictions Do Apply" showcases how art, especially in accessible and familiar forms, can spark dialogue, healing, and connection amid ongoing societal change.