The year 2020 was a turning point — but not a starting point. The COVID-19 pandemic, protests against police violence, and economic instability made headlines across the world. But these events were not isolated. They were the result of deeper structural issues — systemic racism, unequal access to healthcare, and political division — that had been building for generations.

This exhibition explores how people used textiles to respond to that moment and its ongoing effects. Masks, quilts, and other textiles created during and in response to 2020 reflect acts of protection, protest, mourning, and care. Each one offers insight into how individuals and communities worked through fear, uncertainty, and loss — and how they held onto connection.

Textiles carry memory. They are made by hand, used close to the body, and often passed through generations. In "Aftershock: The Long Shadow of 2020," they show us not just what happened, but how it felt — and how people are still responding to a world shaped by crisis.

Von Seggern, 7/18/25-1/10/26

This exhibition features explicit language that may be unsettling for some visitors.