UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures celebrates Black History Month with new exhibit

SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures is celebrating Black History Month with a new exhibit with quilts and a student-produced history project.

“The quilt depicts how the African American people have contributed to Texas,” Denise Reed, a member of the African American Quilt Circle of San Antonio said.

The quilts are part of a new exhibit called, “The Fabric of People.”

“Some of them are probably people we don’t know, but their story is highlighted here for all to see,” Reed said.

Members of the organization spent weeks researching and putting the quilts together.

Reed said there are several stories behind quilts.

“As it grew and we became more masters of needle and thread, our quilts were also used to symbolize messages such as the underground railroad where the safe houses were,” Reed said.

Next to the quilts you will find a project called, “You take it from here.”

“The exhibit is about teenagers from Fox Tech Advanced Learning Academy talking to their parents about their understanding of civil rights and living on the East Side and changes within the neighborhood,” Veronica Garcia Rodriguez, interim head curator, UTSA ITC said.

The exhibit opens Friday, Feb. 10 and runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. To learn more, click here.