Skirball Cultural Center

See Caron Tabb’s dramatic work Fabric of Humanity—Repairing My World alongside an all-ages community quilt-making activity. Measuring more than twelve by nine feet, Tabb’s striking large-scale quilt was created in response to the ongoing pandemic and the associated feelings of hopelessness and isolation. It 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—a Jewish concept grounded in social justice and goodwill that translates to “repair of the world”—the work evokes the beauty and strength of community while also speaking to Tabb’s personal process of healing.

Caron Tabb was born in apartheid South Africa, raised on a farm in Israel from the age of eight, and has lived in the US for the past two decades. After years of working in the nonprofit world, she turned her focus to art. These key biographical elements and her passion for social justice issues deeply impact her artistic practice. In addition to traditional painting and photography, Tabb incorporates found objects and unconventional materials into her work. Her conceptual mixed-media pieces address issues of social inequality, racial justice, and feminism as seen through the lens of her deep Jewish identity. Tabb sees her art as a voice and a vehicle for conversations about what it means to be an American today.

The Skirball invited visitors to add their own artistry and stories to help co-create Skirball community quilts. The quilts created embody shared experiences, unique perspectives, and the intrinsic value of coming together.

The community quilts were stitched together periodically by local quilters under the leadership of Pam Johnson, who contributed to the conceptualization of this project. Johnson is the president of the African American Quilters of Los Angeles, a member of the Los Angeles Modern Quilt Guild, and is associated with the Southern California Council of Quilt Guilds.

See Caron Tabb’s dramatic work Fabric of Humanity – Repairing My World alongside an all-ages community quilt-making activity. Measuring more than twelve by nine feet, Tabb’s striking large-scale quilt was created in response to the ongoing pandemic and the associated feelings of hopelessness and isolation. It 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—a Jewish concept grounded in social justice and goodwill that translates to “repair of the world”—the outcome is a work that evokes the beauty and strength of community while also speaking to Tabb’s personal process of healing.