There is a new exhibition at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) titled “Routed West: Twentieth-Century African American Quilts in California.” This exhibit showcases the work of over 80 Black artists, highlighting the role quilt making played during the Second Great Migration from 1940 to 1970. During this period, millions of Black Americans left the South due to oppressive racial conditions.
BAMPFA curator Elaine Yau discusses the significance of these quilts in a video segment called “101 in 101,” which features Berkeley experts summarizing their fields in just over a minute. Yau states, “The storytelling and the insight into history that we now have through these objects is really extraordinary.” She emphasizes how these quilts reflect the culture brought by migrants who moved from the South during Jim Crow and World War II, influencing Bay Area culture with Black Southern traditions.
The exhibition includes works from members of the African American Quilt Guild of Oakland, a group that fosters community and skill-sharing among its members. The quilts are part of a larger collection consisting of nearly 3,000 African American quilts housed at BAMPFA since a bequest in 2019. Curatorial associate Matthew Villar Miranda supported Yau in assembling this exhibition over five years.
These quilts, displayed on museum walls, convey personal histories through vibrant colors and intricate patterns. They tell stories of resilience, family ties, protest, and more. Yau notes that “[Quilts] live with people in their everyday lives,” adding that they hold deep personal significance for many individuals.
For those interested in learning more about this exhibition or other topics explored by UC Berkeley faculty and experts, additional “101 in 101” videos are available online.
