Threads of Place brings together works from WMA’s permanent collection that explore the intersections of storytelling, abstraction, and material practice. Featuring artists with ties to Alabama alongside nationally recognized figures, the exhibition highlights the richness of voices that shape the museum’s holdings and the larger story of American art.
The exhibition foregrounds artists who use fiber and collage, such as Della Wells, Yvonne Wells, and Jon Coffelt—linking to themes presented in Constructions: Contemporary Fiber, on view concurrently. Their works carry forward traditions of quilt making, assemblage, printmaking, and repurposed materials, drawing connections between personal memory and broader cultural histories. These works demonstrate how everyday materials and tactile processes become vehicles for narrative and identity.
Other works in the exhibition push toward abstraction and experimentation, from Frank Stella’s vibrant lithographs to Ida Kohlmeyer’s expressive forms. Artists such as Dale Kennington and Cicely Hill bring regional stories into dialogue with nationally known figures, underscoring the importance of place in shaping creative practice. Together, the works in Threads of Place remind us that collections are living archives, woven from diverse perspectives and experiences that continue to resonate across time, community, and geography.
