LOS ANGELES, CA—The Skirball Cultural Center unveils three new exhibitions opening November 17, 2022, leading with the stirring Fabric of a Nation: American Quilt Stories, a landmark exhibition that takes a fresh look at the identity and history of the United States through the diverse voices and remarkable artistry of five centuries of quilt makers, from the seventeenth century to the present day. Complementing Fabric of a Nation is Together for Good: Caron Tabb and the Quilting Corner, which features a large-scale quilt created in response to the pandemic using nearly 1,500 keepsakes gathered from across the globe. Tabb’s artwork will be on view alongside an interactive project that invites visitors to contribute to a community quilt, both artworks reflecting the Jewish concept of tikkun olam (Hebrew for “repair of the world”). In addition, the Skirball is thrilled to present Chloë Bass: Wayfinding, a continuous art exhibition comprising a series of sculptures inspired by public wayfinding signage and utilizing the fifteen-acre outdoor campus for the first time in the institution’s history. The exhibition asks big, open-ended questions such as "How much of care is patience?"—prompting visitors to reflect and engage in conversation.

“At the Skirball we aim to tell a broad range of stories that draw connections between Jewish history and values and the broader American ideals of freedom, equality, and democracy. These three exhibitions are beautiful examples of distinctly personal expressions, while also underscoring the restorative power of connection, community, and art,” said Jessie Kornberg, Skirball Cultural Center President and CEO. 

Fabric of a Nation: American Quilt Stories
November 17, 2022–March 12, 2023
Discover the extraordinary stories behind 300 years of American quilts. Fabric of a Nation: American Quilt Stories, featuring works by more than 40 artists, including Harriet Powers, Bisa Butler, and Sanford Biggers, celebrates the artistry and vision of a diverse and largely under-recognized group of creators and brings to light stories that enrich, deepen, and complicate our understanding of the American experience. The exhibition illuminates the unique capacity quilts have to tell stories and convey a sense of humanity, whether produced as works of art or utilitarian objects. Their tactile, intricate mode of creation and traditional use in the home impart deeply personal narratives of their makers and offer an intimate picture of American life. The exhibition is organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The Skirball’s presentation will feature additional works by Los Angeles artists Sabrina Gschwandtner, Ramsess, and Sula Bermúdez-Silverman, as well as a quilt from its own collection highlighting key moments in American Jewish history.

Together for Good: Caron Tabb and the Quilting Corner
November 17, 2022–March 12, 2023
In a new, interactive exhibition entitled Together for Good: Caron Tabb and the Quilting Corner, the Skirball Cultural Center will display contemporary artist Caron Tabb’s dramatic work, Fabric of Humanity—Repairing My World, alongside an all-ages community quilt-making activity. Tabb’s striking large-scale quilt, which was created in response to the ongoing pandemic and the associated feelings of hopelessness and isolation, is composed of materials collected from the artist’s friends and family around the world and assembled into one, cohesive piece. Inspired by modern-day interpretations of tikkun olam (Hebrew for “repair of the world”), a Jewish concept grounded in social justice and goodwill, the outcome is a work that evokes the beauty and strength of community while also speaking to Tabb’s personal process of healing. With the assistance of professional community artisans and facilitators, the Skirball invites visitors to add their own artistry and stories to help create a new Skirball community quilt. As the Skirball’s quilt grows over time, it will embody shared experiences, unique perspectives, and the intrinsic value of coming together.

Chloë Bass: Wayfinding
November 17, 2022–March 12, 2023
Chloë Bass: Wayfinding is an expansive outdoor exhibition of work by artist Chloë Bass (b. 1984). This is the first time in the Skirball Cultural Center's history to fully utilize the fifteen-acre outdoor campus for a continuous art exhibition. Wayfinding is organized into five sections, each anchored by a large, mirrored billboard sculpture that poses a question exploring human emotions that range from compassion and desire to anxiety and loss. Surrounding each billboard are dozens of small- and medium-sized sculptures. First curated by Legacy Russell and presented by the Studio Museum in Harlem in partnership with St. Nicholas Park, Harlem, and NYC Parks, Chloë Bass: Wayfinding then traveled to St. Louis for an exhibition organized by Kristin Fleischmann Brewer and Joshua Peder Stulen at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation. The exhibition concludes its national tour at the Skirball curated by Cate Thurston, and will feature newly commissioned sculptures, as well as a site-specific audio artwork narrated by the artist and local Los Angeles collaborators that encourage moments of private reflection and meaningful exchange in a public space. 

The Skirball Cultural Center is working in partnership with the California African American Museum (CAAM) in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, to present concurrent projects by Chloë Bass, both of which will debut in the fall of 2022. 

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The Skirball Cultural Center’s fall 2022 exhibitions and their related educational programs are made possible by generous support from the following donors:

Fabric of a Nation: American Quilt Stories
The Philip and Muriel Berman Foundation
The Richard E. and Harriett F. Gold Charitable Fund
Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary
Jenni Kayne
The Keston Family
Lois Neiter
U.S. Bank

Together for Good: Caron Tabb and the Quilting Corner
Beacon Gallery
Billie and Steve Fischer
Jenni Kayne

Chloë Bass: Wayfinding
Kafi and Bob Blumenfield
Stephanie and Harold Bronson

Ticketing for the Fall Exhibitions:
Tickets for the fall exhibitions will be released on Thursday, October 6, at 12:00 pm. Admission to Fabric of a Nation: American Quilt Stories: $18 General; $15 Seniors, Full-Time Students, and Children over 12; $13 Children 2–12. Together for Good: Caron Tabb and the Quilting Corner and Chloë Bass: Wayfinding will be included with admission to Fabric of a Nation, or as part of general admission: $12 General; $9 Seniors, Full-Time Students, and Children over 12; $7 Children 2–12. Exhibitions are always free to Skirball Members and Children under 2. 

About the Skirball

The Skirball Cultural Center is a place of meeting guided by the Jewish tradition of welcoming the stranger and inspired by the American democratic ideals of freedom and equality. We welcome people of all communities and generations to participate in cultural experiences that celebrate discovery and hope, foster human connections, and call upon us to help build a more just society.

Visiting the Skirball

The Skirball is located at 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049. Museum hours: Tuesday–Friday, 12:00–5:00 pm; Saturday–Sunday, 10:00 am–5:00 pm; closed Mondays and holidays. Reservations are recommended for General Admission and the permanent exhibition Noah's Ark at the Skirball, which requires timed entry and is ticketed separately. For general information, the public may call (310) 440-4500 or visit skirball.org.