Community Calendar

Niki Johnson: Pillars of Democracy is an exhibition of four large-scale collaged portraits envisioning Lady Liberty, Justice, Freedom, and Forward progress, showcasing the central role of women in the democratic process–from early 20th century suffragists to first-time voters today–uniting generations of creative resistance. This work is traveling throughout the midwest in conjunction with the League of Women Voters and serves to honor the enduring power of the vote and the way art advances movements of change.

These works are made from discarded stencil paper and leftover paint used during the 2020 installation of Shepard Fairy’s Voting Rights Are Human Rights mural in Milwaukee, and were completed by a large team of working artists and volunteers, including volunteers from the League of Women Voters and the Girl Scouts, over the course of ten months.

At its core, Pillars of Democracy shows that democracy is not abstract—it is something we actively build, sustain, and strengthen in our everyday lives and communities.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Niki Johnson is a Milwaukee-based artist, curator, and Executive Director of the Forward Art Initiative. Raised in New Mexico, she has lived and worked across the United States, including extended periods in San Francisco and Memphis. Johnson earned her BFA from the University of Memphis and her MA and MFA in Studio Art from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her work has been reviewed in major national and international publications, including The New York Times, The Guardian, Hyperallergic, and Vice Magazine, among others.

Threads of History: Quilts by Carolyn Mazloomi is a landmark solo exhibition by award-winning artist, historian, and curator Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi. Now an octogenarian, Mazloomi remains one of the most visionary leaders in contemporary quilting, widely recognized for her lifelong efforts to elevate African American quilt traditions. Her striking black-and-white quilts memorialize the lives and legacies of African American freedom fighters, capturing resilience, resistance, and remembrance through bold imagery and layered narrative.

Originally trained as an aerospace engineer, Mazloomi shifted her focus in the 1980s to advocate for African American quilt artists whose contributions had long been marginalized. Through her scholarship, mentorship, and the founding of the Women of Color Quilters Network, she has transformed the cultural landscape, bringing international recognition to quilting as both fine art and historical record. Her extraordinary impact has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Bess Lomax Hawes NEA National Heritage Fellowship, a United States Artists Fellowship, and an American Craft Council Honorary Fellowship. Her work is held in major collections, including the Smithsonian Institution and the American Folk Art Museum.

Opening Reception: June 12, 6-8 pm; Remarks at 6:30 pm

Niki Johnson: Pillars of Democracy is an exhibition of four large-scale collaged portraits envisioning Lady Liberty, Justice, Freedom, and Forward progress, showcasing the central role of women in the democratic process–from early 20th century suffragists to first-time voters today–uniting generations of creative resistance. This work is traveling throughout the midwest in conjunction with the League of Women Voters and serves to honor the enduring power of the vote and the way art advances movements of change.

These works are made from discarded stencil paper and leftover paint used during the 2020 installation of Shepard Fairy’s Voting Rights Are Human Rights mural in Milwaukee, and were completed by a large team of working artists and volunteers, including volunteers from the League of Women Voters and the Girl Scouts, over the course of ten months.

At its core, Pillars of Democracy shows that democracy is not abstract—it is something we actively build, sustain, and strengthen in our everyday lives and communities.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Niki Johnson is a Milwaukee-based artist, curator, and Executive Director of the Forward Art Initiative. Raised in New Mexico, she has lived and worked across the United States, including extended periods in San Francisco and Memphis. Johnson earned her BFA from the University of Memphis and her MA and MFA in Studio Art from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her work has been reviewed in major national and international publications, including The New York Times, The Guardian, Hyperallergic, and Vice Magazine, among others.

Threads of History: Quilts by Carolyn Mazloomi is a landmark solo exhibition by award-winning artist, historian, and curator Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi. Now an octogenarian, Mazloomi remains one of the most visionary leaders in contemporary quilting, widely recognized for her lifelong efforts to elevate African American quilt traditions. Her striking black-and-white quilts memorialize the lives and legacies of African American freedom fighters, capturing resilience, resistance, and remembrance through bold imagery and layered narrative.

Originally trained as an aerospace engineer, Mazloomi shifted her focus in the 1980s to advocate for African American quilt artists whose contributions had long been marginalized. Through her scholarship, mentorship, and the founding of the Women of Color Quilters Network, she has transformed the cultural landscape, bringing international recognition to quilting as both fine art and historical record. Her extraordinary impact has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Bess Lomax Hawes NEA National Heritage Fellowship, a United States Artists Fellowship, and an American Craft Council Honorary Fellowship. Her work is held in major collections, including the Smithsonian Institution and the American Folk Art Museum.

Opening Reception: June 12, 6-8 pm; Remarks at 6:30 pm

Niki Johnson: Pillars of Democracy is an exhibition of four large-scale collaged portraits envisioning Lady Liberty, Justice, Freedom, and Forward progress, showcasing the central role of women in the democratic process–from early 20th century suffragists to first-time voters today–uniting generations of creative resistance. This work is traveling throughout the midwest in conjunction with the League of Women Voters and serves to honor the enduring power of the vote and the way art advances movements of change.

These works are made from discarded stencil paper and leftover paint used during the 2020 installation of Shepard Fairy’s Voting Rights Are Human Rights mural in Milwaukee, and were completed by a large team of working artists and volunteers, including volunteers from the League of Women Voters and the Girl Scouts, over the course of ten months.

At its core, Pillars of Democracy shows that democracy is not abstract—it is something we actively build, sustain, and strengthen in our everyday lives and communities.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Niki Johnson is a Milwaukee-based artist, curator, and Executive Director of the Forward Art Initiative. Raised in New Mexico, she has lived and worked across the United States, including extended periods in San Francisco and Memphis. Johnson earned her BFA from the University of Memphis and her MA and MFA in Studio Art from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her work has been reviewed in major national and international publications, including The New York Times, The Guardian, Hyperallergic, and Vice Magazine, among others.

Experience the Heart of Dayton's Art Scene

Explore 150+ artists, studios, vintage vendors, food trucks, and more at Front Street's First Friday Hart Hop and Saturday open studios

The 42nd annual Art on the Lawn is a juried fine arts festival including artists from Ohio and surrounding states .

The 42nd annual Art on the Lawn is a juried fine arts festival including artists from Ohio and surrounding states .

Threads of History: Quilts by Carolyn Mazloomi is a landmark solo exhibition by award-winning artist, historian, and curator Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi. Now an octogenarian, Mazloomi remains one of the most visionary leaders in contemporary quilting, widely recognized for her lifelong efforts to elevate African American quilt traditions. Her striking black-and-white quilts memorialize the lives and legacies of African American freedom fighters, capturing resilience, resistance, and remembrance through bold imagery and layered narrative.

Originally trained as an aerospace engineer, Mazloomi shifted her focus in the 1980s to advocate for African American quilt artists whose contributions had long been marginalized. Through her scholarship, mentorship, and the founding of the Women of Color Quilters Network, she has transformed the cultural landscape, bringing international recognition to quilting as both fine art and historical record. Her extraordinary impact has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Bess Lomax Hawes NEA National Heritage Fellowship, a United States Artists Fellowship, and an American Craft Council Honorary Fellowship. Her work is held in major collections, including the Smithsonian Institution and the American Folk Art Museum.

Opening Reception: June 12, 6-8 pm; Remarks at 6:30 pm

Niki Johnson: Pillars of Democracy is an exhibition of four large-scale collaged portraits envisioning Lady Liberty, Justice, Freedom, and Forward progress, showcasing the central role of women in the democratic process–from early 20th century suffragists to first-time voters today–uniting generations of creative resistance. This work is traveling throughout the midwest in conjunction with the League of Women Voters and serves to honor the enduring power of the vote and the way art advances movements of change.

These works are made from discarded stencil paper and leftover paint used during the 2020 installation of Shepard Fairy’s Voting Rights Are Human Rights mural in Milwaukee, and were completed by a large team of working artists and volunteers, including volunteers from the League of Women Voters and the Girl Scouts, over the course of ten months.

At its core, Pillars of Democracy shows that democracy is not abstract—it is something we actively build, sustain, and strengthen in our everyday lives and communities.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Niki Johnson is a Milwaukee-based artist, curator, and Executive Director of the Forward Art Initiative. Raised in New Mexico, she has lived and worked across the United States, including extended periods in San Francisco and Memphis. Johnson earned her BFA from the University of Memphis and her MA and MFA in Studio Art from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her work has been reviewed in major national and international publications, including The New York Times, The Guardian, Hyperallergic, and Vice Magazine, among others.