Art and activism come together in a striking display of creativity as the 13th South African Quilters’ Guild (SAQG) Travelling Quilt Exhibition journeys across the country ahead of the 23rd National Quilt Festival, set for Gqeberha in July 2026.
The exhibition officially opened at the War Museum of the Boer Republics in Bloemfontein, where visitors can experience the thought-provoking collection themed Sew Conscious.
Through textile art, the exhibition sparks conversations around conservation, pollution, and human responsibility.
The idea was inspired by Dias Quilters’ Guild chairperson Chiquita Vosloo after volunteering at the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre at Bayworld Aquarium in Port Elizabeth, where she witnessed the devastating impact of ocean pollution on marine life.
Together with fellow quilters, she introduced the broader festival theme Sew Awareness to encourage environmental reflection within the quilting community. “These quilts travel the country for approximately one and a half years, visiting guilds and groups, before ending their journey at the 23rd National Quilt Festival in Gqeberha,” explained organiser Iessie Steenberg.
A total of 32 quilts, all created according to the same size specifications, were submitted by SAQG members nationwide. Steenberg curated the exhibition by arranging the pieces thematically at the museum, allowing visitors to engage with the environmental and social themes woven into each artwork. “With the Travelling Quilt Exhibitions, the SAQG aims to raise further awareness through the different themes and titles chosen for each collection, but it is also a way of promoting the art of quilt-making by showcasing the work of its members,” said Steenberg.
Each quilt carries its own story. Attached labels explain the inspiration behind every artwork, touching on issues such as pollution, conservation, waste, identity, and humanity’s relationship with nature.
Steenberg believes the exhibition speaks to visitors on both a personal and collective level.
“The deeper underlying communication of the quilts is about conservation and human behaviour,” she said. “God’s creation is perfect and balanced. Humanity, in all its diversity, is responsible – we cannot point fingers.”
Her message is ultimately a call to action: “Recycle. Reuse. Redesign. Scale down. Refresh.” More than an art exhibition, Sew Conscious invites South Africans to reflect on their environmental footprint, one stitch at a time.
Sibongile Selomane
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