The Art of Belonging
The Art of Belonging
The Art of Belonging features over 80 quilt squares created during the 2024 winter term with guest artist-in-residence Steve Prince, artist and director of education at the Muscarelle Museum of Art at William and Mary. In February, Prince led workshops for medical care providers in Portland who are part of the Northwest Narrative Medicine Collaborative; adults from the Eugene/Springfield community; and UO students, student-athletes, faculty, and staff. Their quilts illustrate individual stories, narratives, and self-portraits centered around identity and connection. Participants found a sense of belonging while illustrating their personal stories through quilting. Over 100 people participated in the one-week series of workshops held in both Portland and Eugene. Throughout the workshops, participants were able to build community and connection.
Guided by Prince, participants were encouraged to express their unique stories by making quilt pieces using a mix of old and new fabric materials. A large pile of fabric was placed in the middle of the tables, and participants were invited to select pieces that resonated with them, making the creative process more communal. Prince guided the session by explaining how each story becomes the main concept of their art piece, helping the quilts become illustrations of individual stories, narratives, and self-portraits that center around identity and connection.
There are twelve self-portraits integrated into the long quilt panels in each hallway. These quilt squares were created by UO students enrolled in PPPM 399 Visual Principles. Students were asked to examine their past, present, and future by creating visual maps that illustrate their milestones and visions. Many of the students were incoming freshman student-athletes navigating what it means to be on a college campus for the first time and contemplating their identities outside of their sport.
No visual art or dance experience was required for these workshops, yet participants fully engaged by expressing their emotions, identities, and stories through body movements and creating quilt pieces. The JSMA views programs like this as opportunities to gather and reflect on how symbols and colors can illustrate our individual stories and connect us to one another.
At the end of the exhibition in the winter of 2025, the quilts will travel to Williamsburg, Virginia, to be integrated into a mile-long quilt comprised of pieces made during workshops with Steve Prince over the last two years as part of the Communal Quilt Project.
The museum thanks the Barker Foundation and Tykeson Family Foundation for their support of this residency.
Lisa Abia-Smith Director of Education and Senior Instructor II
El arte de pertenecer
El arte de pertenecer presenta más de 80 cuadrados de edredones creados durante el trimestre del invierno de 2024 con el artista residente Steve Prince, artista y director de educación del Museo de Arte Muscarelle en William y Mary. En febrero, Prince dirigió talleres para los proveedores de servicios médicos de Portland que son parte del Colaborativo de Medicina Narrativa del Noroeste, adultos de la comunidad de Eugene/Springfield, y estudiantes, estudiantes deportistas, profesores y personal de la UO. Sus edredones ilustran historias individuales, narrativas y autorretratos centrados en la identidad y la conexión. Los participantes encontraron un sentido de pertenencia mientras ilustraban sus historias personales a través de la creación de edredones. Más de 100 personas participaron en la serie de talleres de una semana realizados en Portland y Eugene. Durante los talleres, los participantes pudieron desarrollar una comunidad y conexión.
Guiados por Prince, los participantes fueron motivados a expresar sus historias únicas haciendo piezas de edredones con una mezcla de telas nuevas y viejas. Un montón de telas se colocó en medio de las mesas y los participantes fueron invitados a seleccionar las piezas que resonaban con ellos, haciendo que el proceso creativo fuera más comunitario. Prince guio la sesión explicando cómo cada historia se convierte en el concepto principal de su obra de arte, ayudando a que los edredones se conviertan en ilustraciones de historias individuales, narrativas y autorretratos que se centran en la identidad y la conexión.
Hay doce autorretratos integrados en los largos paneles de edredones en cada pasillo. Estos cuadrados de edredones fueron creados por estudiantes de la UO inscritos en PPPM 399 Principios Visuales. Se pidió a los estudiantes que examinaran su pasado, presente y futuro, creando mapas visuales que ilustraran sus hitos y visiones. Muchos de los estudiantes eran estudiantes deportistas de primer año navegando por primera vez lo que significa estar en un campus universitario y contemplando su identidad fuera de su deporte.
No se requirió ninguna experiencia en artes visuales o danza para participar en estos talleres. Aun así, los participantes expresaron plenamente sus emociones, identidades e historias a través de movimientos del cuerpo y la creación de piezas de edredones. El JSMA considera este tipo de programas como oportunidades para reunirse y reflexionar sobre cómo los símbolos y los colores pueden ilustrar nuestras historias individuales y conectarnos entre nosotros.
Al final de la exposición en el invierno de 2025, los edredones viajarán a Williamsburg, Virginia, para integrarse a un edredón de una milla de longitud compuesto de piezas hechas durante los talleres con Steve Prince en los dos últimos años como parte del Proyecto de Edredones Comunales.
El museo agradece a la Fundación Barker y la Fundación de la Familia Tykeson por su apoyo para esta residencia.
Lisa Abia-Smith
Directora de Educación e Instructora Principal II
South Hallway
South Hallway
Ryder Hayes UO Student-athlete, football
Kyle Farthing UO student
Nina Polishook UO student
I chose the colors black and white to represent my past because they remind me of my high school colors. For my present, I chose green because it represents my current state as an Oregon Duck and my affiliation as a student-athlete. I chose fireworks to describe my future because I’m shooting for the stars, as well as the ‘?’ because the future is uncertain.
541.787.3003 #63
My past is black and dark, so I used dark colors to represent this. My present is represented by red because I have a love for life right now. My future is bright, so I used yellow to portray this aspect of my life.
541.787.3003 #64
The section representing my past shows the love I received growing up. My present section has blank colors to represent the many paths I could take, like a blank canvas. The hat and combination of colors in my future section illustrate how my future is influenced by my past. My present also shows how I want to adopt a cat.
G541.787.3003 #65
Dante Moore
UO Student-athlete, football
Luke Basso
My past shows a time of being a young child, waking up every day with no worries and eager to try new things. Everything was joyful, and we couldn’t wait to see what the future would hold. My present shows a variety of things that reflect my current life. At this age, I am living life to its fullest by doing various things and exploring nature (blue). The yellow represents how I hope my future will turn out; my mother’s favorite color is yellow, which is very calming, so I hope my future is calming and joyful.
541.787.3003 #66
UO Student-athlete, football
The fabric I chose to represent my past is full of bright, vibrant colors that are somewhat overwhelming. These colors represent my view of the world as a child when I thought everything was good and perfect. The fabric I chose to represent my present is green with swirly shapes and designs. Green is important to me as a student and athlete at UO, living in the “city of trees” in Oregon, and it’s my favorite color. The designs represent my “flow state” and my constant motivation to find calmness and peace. The blue flower fabric represents my future because I hope to live by a crystal-clear lake somewhere remote. The blue reminds me of the water I hope to live by, and the flowers remind me of my girlfriend and my hopes for our relationship to blossom. The simplicity of this fabric keeps me grounded and reminds me of what I truly want in my life going forward.
541.787.3003 #67
The bottom portion of my face represents my past, showing my upbringing as the child of a hippie in Eugene. The center portion represents my present, showing that life is harder now than when I was little, so it’s a bit darker and less colorful. The top portion represents my future using a lot of reds and maroons, which are my favorite colors. It shows I want to be fulfilled by helping people and creating.
541.787.3003 #68
Jade Zito UO student
North Hallway
North Hallway
Brooke Spaulding UO student
Past: Innocence, glee, naive, unprepared. As a child, I fondly remember the carefree nature of life and not being burdened with ideas of success and failure.
Present: Free, ambitious, nervous, aware. As a young adult, I cherish my newfound freedom, but I am also anxious to secure my place in the world.
Future: Calm, responsible, tranquil, confident. I hope to be confident in my decisions and goals and find internal peace with myself, my family, and my life.
541.787.3003 #69
Aaron Kaplan UO student
In my past section, music represents something I enjoyed making as a kid. The polka dots remind me of sprinkles and birthday cake, and the flowers symbolize growing up with a twin sister. The present section has a linear pattern that collides together, symbolizing how life can seem linear but often collides, showing that every day won’t be perfect or the same. The two fabrics in the future show two opposite paths: one is cloudy and uncertain, and the other is bright and optimistic.
541.787.3003 #70
Avi Hille UO student
The symbols of a river and home, with me in between, represent my past of living with divorced parents and feeling torn between two homes. My present section includes symbols that represent my current interests and newfound independence. These symbols also represent my hopes for the future, like becoming a city planner and community activist, and where I want to live in Portland.
541.787.3003 #71
Hannah Schmid UO student
I made sure to overlap every piece of cloth to represent how my past, present, and future are all connected. This self-portrait shows me looking back at my past to see how far I have come. I chose cloth pieces that represent me and colors/patterns that I love. This self-portrait represents my present by including pieces that reflect my current personality and interests. It also shows the opportunity for self-growth. My future section shows me looking forward to what is to come, with my face looking toward the future and great things ahead. The pieces of cloth also represent how I see my future unfolding.
Abby Harrison UO student
Denise Cooper UO student
541.787.3003 #72
All of my experiences have shaped who I am today. My thoughts and feelings from the past have brought me to create this piece. It makes you stop and think about what makes you, you and me, me. My present section represents who I am physically at this moment. I chose fabrics that speak to me now. The placement of materials outside the silhouette shows growth and thoughts, as well as goals for the future. This piece, which is physical and visual, can be viewed as futuristic, especially when so many people are working at different times.
541.787.3003 #73
The gray color represents a dark past and the struggle to feel many things and overcome them. The blue represents my high school colors, where I faced many struggles. The pink color with “Love” words all over represents a time when I loved someone deeply, which helped me become stronger. The patterns and colors I used for my present represent the flows of music and the different phases I am going through. I am experiencing a lot while being young. The blooming flowers represent my life blooming in many ways. The bright future colors represent something positive. I believe I have many blessings and opportunities ahead. God is shining through me, and if I continue to align my life with Him, my future will be as bright as His light. The light blue represents a peaceful and abundant life. I want to feel like I’ve made it and that the storm has finally calmed down.
541.787.3003 #74
The only academic art museum in Oregon accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the University of Oregon’s Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (JSMA) features engaging exhibitions, significant collections of historic and contemporary art, and exciting educational programs that support the university’s academic mission and the diverse interests of its off-campus communities. The JSMA’s collections galleries present selections from its extensive holdings of Chinese, Japanese, Korean and American art. Special exhibitions galleries display works from the collection and on loan, representing many cultures of the world, past and present. The JSMA continues a long tradition of bridging international cultures and offers a welcoming destination for discovery and education centered on artistic expression that deepens the appreciation and understanding of the human condition.
About the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art