Story Cloths and the Book: Work by New Image Artists

The exhibition "Story Cloths and the Book: Work by New Image Artists" explores the intersection of narrative textiles, mixed media, and handmade artist's books, examining the human relationship with reading, writing, meaning, and creative process. A story cloth is a textile that conveys a narrative—personal, historical, or community-oriented—and this tradition predates the invention of the printing press. The featured works interpret a diverse range of subjects, including the author of a classic mystery series, individual identity, family histories, the joy of summer, and memories of beloved books. The exhibition is curated by Mary Welch Higgins and presents works by eleven artists from the New Image Artists collective.

When: June 11, 2026 through July 26, 2026. The Athenaeum is open Thursday through Sunday, 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Showtimes: An opening reception (also referred to as the Artists’ Reception) takes place on Sunday, June 14, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

Tickets: Admission price is not listed; contact the venue for current admission details.

Lineup: Participating artists include B.J. Adams, Mary Beth Bellah, Linda Colsh, Joan Dreyer, Candace Edgerley, Catherine Kleeman, Verena Levine, Dominie Nash, Ginny Smith, Andrea Uravitch, and Saaraliisa Ylitalo.

Curated by: Mary Welch Higgins

Venue: Athenaeum, located at 201 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Phone: 703.548.0035. For more information, visit the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association website at https://www.nvfaa.org. The exhibition's dedicated event page is https://www.nvfaa.org/current-exhibit.

Note: An image of a work titled "Summer Reading" by Andrea Uravitch is featured in promotional materials. The exhibition brings together narrative textiles and artist's books, highlighting the enduring power of storytelling through fabric and paper.