Textile Art Meets Environmental Justice at MODA
At a time when the world is reckoning with environmental and social complexity, the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) presents an exhibition that brings these issues to the surface—one stitch at a time. Titled Threads of Change, this exhibition explores how textile art can reveal and reframe the systems that sustain life. The use of textile art to address environmental issues comes as no surprise since at the start of the year, top curators predicted this trend.
Co-curated by MODA Executive Director Laura Flusche, the show is a powerful example of how fiber-based artwork can engage audiences in new, tactile ways.
“Textile art is uniquely suited to weaving together complex narratives,” says Flusche. “By making data tangible and relatable, Threads of Change invites audiences to critically engage with their connection to the ecosystems that sustain life.”
Laura Flusche
Textiles as Environmental Storytellers
Through large-scale fiber installations and immersive design, Threads of Change examines our relationship to nature, consumption, and community. By showcasing how data, craft, and environmental storytelling intersect, the exhibition pushes textile art beyond decoration and into the realm of activism and ecological design.
Meet the Artists Stitching the Future
Here are a few of the artists featured in Threads of Change:
- Sandra Sawatzky – She’s best known for her monumental Black Gold Tapestry. Sawatzky’s intricate work documents the social, political, and environmental impacts of oil. She uses hand embroidery to map humanity’s dependence on fossil fuels.
- The Crochet Coral Reef Project by Margaret and Christine Wertheim. This globally recognized collaborative project is made using crochet . The project raises awareness about marine ecology, climate change, and the destruction of coral reefs. Thus turning yarn into an unforgettable activist medium.
- Adrian Baker – Her work Net-Work is a collaborative installation modeled after the mycorrhizal networks that connect trees in a forest. The piece features more than 300 handmade fiber strands created by contributors from around the globe. The work embodies the theme of interconnectivity both ecologically and socially. It addresses the entanglement of nature and human industry. Using recycled materials and fiber, Baker explores how interconnected systems—natural and manufactured—shape our world.
From Exhibit to Experience: Fiber Art Workshops
To expand on the themes of the exhibition, MODA is hosting a series of hands-on workshops with local artists Kimani Johnson, Sayma Hossain, Camisha Butler, and Amanda Banks. Their practices strongly reflect the exhibition’s themes of sustainability, community, and material transformation.
Workshop participants will learn to work with recycled materials and traditional textile techniques. Participants will create works that tell their own stories. From weaving with single-use plastics to exploring upcycled fashion, these events invite audiences to become part of the narrative—one thread at a time.
Upcoming Workshops for Threads of Change
Weaving Waste Into Works, a Workshop with Sayma Hossain
- Wednesday, April 23, 2025
- 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Walking & Weaving Atlanta, a Workshop with Amanda Banks
- Saturday, April 26, 2025
- 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Why The Threads of Change Exhibition Matters
Threads of Change is more than an art show. It’s a call to see and feel our place in the web of life. Furthermore, the exhibition is a model of how design and craft can serve as vehicles for deeper awareness and change.
Located in Atlanta’s Midtown Arts District, MODA continues to lead with exhibitions that challenge and inspire. Whether you’re a textile lover, an environmentalist, or simply curious about where art and design can take us, this is a show worth seeing.
🧵 Threads of Change runs now through May 25, 2025. In addition to workshops, there’ll be several guided tours of the exhibit. Learn more and plan your visit at museumofdesign.org.
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