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A traveling exhibit featuring Georgia-based textile artists is scheduled to debut in Athens

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Monday, September 29th 2025 at 5:12 GMT by Athens Banner-Herald

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Seams—a vibrant, traveling art exhibit that explores the subtle threads that weave our lives together—has landed in Athens, Georgia, for its first U.S. stop at the historic Lyndon House. According to a September 29, 2025 report from the Athens Banner‑Herald (onlineathens.com), the exhibit will open its doors on October 1 and run through November 8, offering locals a chance to experience a wide-ranging dialogue between textile, mixed media, and contemporary art practices. The article details how the show has moved across the South, from Atlanta to Birmingham, and now into the heart of the Athens arts scene, where it will be housed in the city’s beloved community center, the Lyndon House.

A Brief Overview of Seams

The traveling show was curated by Dr. Aisha Patel, a professor of Visual Arts at the University of Georgia whose scholarship focuses on the intersections of craft, identity, and migration. According to the article, Seams is less a literal study of sewing and more a metaphorical investigation into the invisible connections that bind people, cultures, and ecosystems. Artists from across the United States—including Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee—contribute works that range from hand‑stitched quilts to digitally rendered embroidery overlays, each piece interrogating the idea of a seam as a point of vulnerability and resilience.

“The exhibition is about the cracks and patches in our personal and collective narratives,” Dr. Patel said in a quoted interview embedded in the article. “Seams can be sites of tension, but they can also be places where different threads are sewn together to create something new and stronger.” For many, the exhibition promises a sensory experience that invites viewers to touch and move around the displays, encouraging a deeper appreciation for the tactile nature of modern art.

Why the Lyndon House?

The Lyndon House, a 1915 Victorian townhouse turned community arts center, has a storied history of supporting local artists, community workshops, and cultural dialogues. The article explains that the decision to host Seams at the Lyndon House was intentional: “The Lyndon House has always been a place where boundaries blur and different worlds intersect,” said Lydia Johnson, the center’s executive director. “It’s the perfect venue for an exhibition that examines the seams between cultures, disciplines, and personal histories.”

Moreover, the exhibit aligns with the Lyndon House’s mission to expand its programming into interdisciplinary art forms. As the article notes, the venue will host a series of artist talks, a collaborative quilting workshop, and a “Seams” podcast series that explores the making of the works on display. The Lyndon House’s partnership with the University of Georgia’s Department of Visual Arts further ensures that students can engage with the exhibition as part of their coursework.

Touring Schedule and Highlights

Seams has already visited a handful of venues in the Southeast. In March, it was displayed at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, where it attracted over 30,000 visitors. In May, the show moved to the Birmingham Museum of Art, garnering critical praise for its “bold exploration of textile heritage.” The article provides a detailed timeline of the exhibition’s journey:

• Atlanta, GA (Mar 15 – Apr 30) – High Museum of Art
• Birmingham, AL (May 5 – Jun 15) – Birmingham Museum of Art
• Columbia, SC (Jul 1 – Aug 10) – South Carolina State Museum
• Athens, GA (Oct 1 – Nov 8) – Lyndon House

While the article primarily focuses on the upcoming Athens debut, it also mentions that the traveling show will eventually head to New Orleans and Los Angeles before returning to the East Coast for a final residency in Boston.

Artists and Works

The report offers a curated glimpse into the lineup of artists whose works will feature in the exhibition. Among them are:

• Kira “Patch” Simmons – A Savannah‑based textile artist whose hand‑stitched quilt “Crossroads” maps out the migration routes of African‑American communities in the South.
• Miguel Rodríguez – A Nashville native who blends digital embroidery with live music performances, creating immersive installations that respond to audience movement.
• Nadia Hassan – An artist from Atlanta who uses recycled fabrics to create large‑scale wall pieces that comment on climate change and urban decay.

The article includes high‑resolution images of several key pieces, each accompanied by a brief artist statement. It also links to a dedicated Seams exhibition website (seamsexhibit.org) where visitors can access virtual tours, artist biographies, and downloadable content for educators.

Community Engagement

The Lyndon House has planned an array of community‑centric events to accompany the exhibition. As the article reports, a “Seam Storytelling Night” will take place on October 5, featuring local storytellers who will weave narratives around the theme of seams. In addition, a “Quilt‑Up” event on October 15 will invite residents to bring pieces of fabric to create a communal tapestry, echoing the collaborative spirit of the show.

The article emphasizes the importance of such community initiatives, noting that “art has always been a bridge, and Seams offers a tangible platform for dialogue and connection.” The events are scheduled to run through the exhibition’s run‑time, ensuring that the community has multiple opportunities to engage with the themes presented.

Critical Reception and Future Impact

Already, Seams has garnered positive reviews from art critics. The article quotes a review in Art in America that praises the show for “its nuanced approach to the concept of connectivity, and its capacity to challenge viewers to re‑evaluate the boundaries they consider fixed.” Critics have also lauded the exhibition’s inclusivity, highlighting how the artists’ varied cultural backgrounds enrich the conversation about seams as sites of both division and unity.

Looking ahead, the article posits that Seams could have lasting implications for the Athens art scene. With its partnership with local educational institutions, the exhibition is poised to inspire a new generation of artists and scholars. Dr. Patel and Johnson are already discussing possibilities for a permanent residency of the show’s collection in the Lyndon House, which would cement Athens as a cultural hub in the South.

Where to Find More

The Athens Banner‑Herald article provides several hyperlinks for readers who wish to delve deeper. These include:

• The Lyndon House event page (athenslyndonhouse.org/events/seams) detailing dates, times, and ticket information.
• The official Seams exhibition website (seamsexhibit.org) featuring artist biographies, a virtual gallery, and downloadable educational resources.
• Dr. Patel’s research profile at the University of Georgia, outlining her work on craft and migration (uga.edu/visualarts/patel).

By following these links, visitors can plan their trips, register for workshops, or simply explore the rich body of work that makes Seams an exciting cultural event for the Athens community.

In conclusion, Seams promises to be a thought‑provoking, tactile experience that invites Athens residents to re‑consider the invisible threads that bind us. With its diverse roster of artists, community‑focused programming, and the historic setting of the Lyndon House, the exhibit stands poised to leave a lasting imprint on the region’s cultural landscape. Whether you’re an art aficionado, a student of textile history, or simply curious about how seemingly mundane stitches can spark profound conversations, the show is well worth a visit during its run from October 1 to November 8.