April at VMOTA

Dear VMOTA Community -

What a beautiful start to spring. We hope you are enjoying the time in the sun during these longer days. Last week we partnered with Art Scene Baja for a Binational Tour that started at VMOTA and took us across the border to Tijuana to see 3 longstanding community cultural centers: CEART (state cultural center), Casa de la Cultura Tijuana (municipal cultural center), and CECUT (federal cultural center). As our exhibit at CECUT comes to a close, it was an honor to see it one last time and to take a picture with our logo (above). This partnership was about expanding opportunities for artists, connecting across borders, and introducing others to the vibrant arts and culture scene of Tijuana. We look forward to building future collaborations with regional neighbors.

In the meantime, we have several exciting workshops coming up at VMOTA to pair with our spring exhibitions. We hope to see you at the museum again soon!

Katrina Bruins

Executive Director

Events & Opportunities

THIS WEEKEND

Solana Center Zero-Waste Textile Expo - Sunday, March 22nd

VMOTA is excited to participate in the 2026 Zero Waste Textile Expo, happening on Sunday, March 22, 2026, from 1 - 4 PM at the Encinitas Community & Senior Center!⁣

Expect interactive displays, clothing swaps, a Fix-It Clinic for textile mending, local sustainable vendors, and opportunities for zero-waste learning and actionable takeaways. Join us for this fun, family-friendly community event.

Featured Artists from VMOTA: Sabrina Evans and Angela D'Amico

LEARN MORE AND RSVP

JOIN US BEFORE IT'S SOLD OUT!

Transform Landscape Photos to Quilts with LeAnn Hileman - March 29th-31st

Looking to take your quilts to the next level? Transform your work with realism under the guidance of expert narrative realist quilter, LeAnn Hileman, whose work has been shown in national and international shows, including Quilt National 21 and The Festival of Quilts in the United Kingdom in 2021, and has been awarded for Outstanding Artistry in Road to California 2019.

In the Photos to Quilts - Landscape Version Workshop, techniques will be shared to create perspective and realism in art quilts. LeAnn will discuss and demonstrate ways to use color theory and art principles and apply them to each student’s photo. LeAnn will be happy to work with you so you can find a great photo for you to work with. By using the student’s photo and the individual’s experience and feeling about the photo, you can create not just a realistic photo quilt but an art quilt that is very meaningful to the maker and the viewer. Students will be taught to create a foundation, establish perspective, and detail using techniques such as thread-painting.

APRIL FIRST FRIDAY

Sit 'n' Stitch - Friday, April 3rd

Did you know that the Arts District Liberty Station stays open late on the First Friday of every month?

This First Friday, stitch with others in our textile community to share laughs, insight, and creativity. Bring a project that is overdue for its finishing touches or an idea that has yet to see the light of day! We encourage you to bring materials for your own project. We will have knitting needles and yarn available on site as well for self-guided crafting.

Date: Friday, April 3, 2026

Time: 5 - 8 PM

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APRIL FOCUS FIBER - MEMBERS ONLY

All About Blackwell Embroidery - Monday, April 6, 2026

Next Focus Fiber: VMOTA member Lynne Friedmann shares the history of Blackwork Embroidery, popular in the 16th century and still very much alive today. Her talk will include the history of a piece Lynne began in the last century and the serendipitous role VMOTA had in its completion.

What is Focus Fiber? Focus Fiber is an open and collaborative space within VMOTA that fosters growth and connection among artists working in fiber and textile arts. The group meets regularly to share projects, exchange constructive feedback, and support artistic development in a welcoming and respectful environment. Open to all VMOTA members engaged in fiber and textile work, Focus Fiber offers a platform for artists to build confidence in sharing their creative expressions.

Focus Fiber meetings are on the first Monday of the month.

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TEXTILE WORKSHOP

Sacred Thresholds: Weaving Ritual Spaces with Bibiana Badia Workshop - Saturday, May 2, 2026

Event Details

Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026

Time: 10-11:30am

Location: VMOTA, 2825 Dewey Road, Suite 100

VMOTA Members Fee: $30

Non-Members Workshop Fee: $35

Slow down, stitch, and a share a sacred space

Join Spotlight artist Bibiana Badia in “Sacred Thresholds: Weaving Ritual Spaces.” In this workshop, participants will be led through breathing and meditative exercises to ground themselves in the creation of their own personal textile altar. Participants will be led through tactile exploration, embroidery stitches, and the embellishment of their altar, which will be mounted on carved wood. The primary focus will be on intuitive, meditative embroidery, prioritizing the sensory and personal experience over technique or the final product. All materials will be provided, though participants are asked to bring a small, precious object of sentimental value.

RSVP Your Spot

SAVE THE DATE

Patchwork: An Afternoon of Textile Art at MCASD - Saturday, May 17th

In "Patchwork: An Afternoon of Textile Art”, participants will explore their textile creativity across four workshops taught by local artists. With each workshop touching upon a different facet of the expansive discipline of textile art, seasoned and blossoming textile artists alike will each get the chance to learn new skills and build community. Admission into the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego is included with purchase.

Participants will:

Be exposed to four forms of textile art: mixed-media collage, soft sculpture, visible mending, and kumihimo braiding
Witness how textile art is intertwined with mindfulness, craftsmanship & community
Learn from textile experts
Experience guided, technical artistic expression that can start their textile journey or enhance a pre-existing practice

Featured Artists: Mônica Lóss, Esther Gamez, Adriana Fuentes, and Sarah Lewis

Date: May 17th, 2026

Time: 11:45 AM to 5:00 PM

Location: MCASD, La Jolla

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Current Exhibitions

VMOTA is pleased to share that our 2026 Exhibition Calendar is included in Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a nationwide semiquincentennial initiative to showcase the importance of the handmade both throughout our history and in contemporary life. Learn about all participating organizations through the link below.

HANDWORK 2026

San Diego Textile Scene

Feb 14, 2026 to Jun 20, 2026

This exhibition celebrates the creativity and innovation of San Diego’s textile artists while honoring the deep textile traditions of the region, which trace back to the indigenous Kumeyaay people. Featured in this exhibition are two wearable pieces from Kumeyaay artisans Anselmo Dominguez and Norma Meza.

The contemporary artists featured in this exhibition were selected from VMOTA’s 2026 art call: Jean Benelli, Monica Loss, Rebecca Smith, Nancy Lemke, Sue Britt, and Angela D’Amico. Through a diverse range of techniques and approaches, their work reflects both individual artistic voices and the ongoing evolution of textile art in San Diego—bridging past and present, tradition and innovation.

CYANOTYPE

Feb 14, 2026 to Jun 20, 2026

The cyanotype—derived from the Ancient Greek kyáneos (dark blue) and týpos (mark or impression)—is a photographic process known for its distinctive blue imagery. Today, the cyanotype process has been reimagined within contemporary textile art as a site of experimentation and innovation. In this exhibition, four artists present distinct approaches to the technique, exploring its historical roots while expanding its expressive and material possibilities for a contemporary audience.

I Find Little Treasures

by Vanessa Freitag

Feb 14, 2026 to Jun 20, 2026

This exhibition brings together medium-format textile objects and sculptures that investigate the construction of fragmented landscapes—spaces that are sewn, woven, and crocheted into a sense of belonging. The work emerges from a practice rooted in wandering through sites of memory: bazaars, antique shops, and public markets in the city the artist inhabits. These places become starting points for an intuitive process of discovery and collection.

Porcelain, tableware, ornaments, and handcrafted objects—once part of homes unknown to me—are gathered and carefully incorporated into the textile forms. Treated as small treasures, these objects are nestled among the soft branches of the sculptures, inviting an attentive gaze to slowly uncover them.

SPOTLIGHT GALLERY

Fiber Weavings by Patti Chamberlin

Feb 14, 2026 to Mar 28, 2026

Working with gathered pine needles and other natural materials, this body of work explores woven texture, form, and the dialogue between traditional craft and contemporary design. Each piece begins with a loose intention, but the process remains intuitive—once weaving begins, control is surrendered. The materials guide the outcome, shaping forms that evolve through listening, responsiveness, and trust in the act of making.

This exhibition is generously sponsored by The Glen at Scripps Ranch.

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MEMBERS CHALLENGE (?)

Home by VMOTA Membership Community

Feb 14, 2026 to Mar 21, 2026

The theme of “Home” encompasses the many facets of a space that make us feel safe, connected, and grounded. Explore 12"x12" artworks inspired by the feelings, the places, the tangible, and intangible that come together to create our artist members' sense of home.

Support the artists! Artwork is available for purchase through our retail store!

Support Visions Museum of Textile Art by Becoming a Member

VMOTA membership, with its updated tiers and benefits, is designed to create deeper connections with textile art and our creative community. Members enjoy 10% discounts on store purchases and workshops, invitations to exhibition openings, and special experiences like private docent tours and North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) access at select levels.

But beyond these benefits, our membership offers meaningful ways to connect with VMOTA and textile art. All members are welcome to join our philanthropy group, Visions Giving Circle (an additional $500/year), or the Focus Fiber Group, an open and collaborative space that fosters growth and connection among artists working in fiber and textile arts. Artist-members can share their website on VMOTA’s artist directory and receive discounted call-for-entry fees, and members exploring exhibition opportunities, whether hobbyists or practicing artists, can participate in member challenges.

Together, membership brings artists, learners, community members, and supporters together through textile art to tell our collective stories.

Not a member yet? Join us today and be part of the VMOTA community.

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PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

Patient Fidget Mats

VMOTA is partnering with Scripps Health, the leading nonprofit healthcare system in Southern California, to create Patient Fidget Mats. These mats are used in clinical healthcare units to give patients something to keep their hands busy and help them stay calm and engaged. They are often provided to patients who may pick at their IVs, patients in rehabilitation, or individuals living with Alzheimer’s.

Right now, Scripps has far more requests for these mats than their one amazing volunteer seamstress can keep up with—so they could really use our help!

Each mat should be a 17-inch by 15-inch rectangle with a quilted backing to make it sturdy. Add 5–6 items that are securely sewn on so they cannot be removed, ensuring patient safety. Good options include zippers, buttons, ribbons, laces, and fabrics with different textures. Beads are also acceptable if they are attached to fabric or string that is firmly sewn onto the mat.

If you’d like to support Scripps Health by creating a Patient Fidget Mat for patient comfort and engagement, please drop them off at VMOTA during our open hours between March 25th and April 22nd.