Alabama Authors Quilt by Tiavalya Befecadu
Tiavalya is an award-winning, self-taught Textile Artist whose work has been exhibited in local and national museums. She has also been featured on NBC and CBS affiliate television networks, radio stations and other outlets addressing the importance of embracing Black culture and women’s voices through art. She believes in preserving the traditions of quilt making not only as items of comfort, but through timeless wall hangings as art.
In 2017, she founded Tiavalya Photography, LLC, a minority, woman-owned small business specializing in family portraiture, corporate headshots, and executive branding. In 2020, Tiavalya expanded her creative portfolio to include custom textile art quilting created from photographs.
Tiavalya teaches her textile art and quilting techniques to children, beginner quilters and craft enthusiasts. She is a proud member of the Professional Photographers of America, the Rocket City Modern Quilt Guild and sits on the Board of Directors for the Historic Huntsville Foundation.
Programs:
• Quilt Exhibition Kickoff - February 4 at 11:00 a.m.
Join us for a presentation by Tiavalya Befecadu where she will speak about her work, the inspiration behind it, and her quilting journey. There will be a Q&A session at the end and we will introduce our Community Quilt Art Project. Light refreshments will be served.
•The Community Quilt Art Project, we encourage visitors to participate by designing their own quilt square on a piece of paper. All of the completed squares will displayed together to form a community quilt that will be displayed in the Library.
• Sew a Quilted Potholder - February 11 at 10:00-11:30 a.m. or 3:00-4:30 p.m. (registration required)
This is a family friendly (12 years and older) sewing activity to create potholders! Sewing machines will be available and materials will be included. Tiavalya Befecadu will be present at the afternoon time slot. Registration is required since there is a limited number of spots in each time slot. Please email kdelong@hmcpl.org to register.
• Quilt Themed Storytimes - February 21, 22, and 23 at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. will be quilt themed.
• Patterns of History: Art and Quilting in Alabama with Elliott Knight, PhD - February 26 at 2:00 p.m.
Join Dr. Elliott Knight for a discussion of quilting and Alabama's artistic traditions. He'll survey Alabama's many acclaimed visual artists and provide historical context for living artists such as Tiavalya Befecadu, whose Alabama Authors Quilt will be displayed during his presentation. Dr. Knight is the author of Alabama Creates: 200 Years of Art and Alabama Artists and sits on the Alabama State Council on the Arts.
• Discussion with Dr. Charlotte Teague - March 5 at 2:00 p.m.
Dr. Charlotte Teague, from Alabama A&M will be speaking about the authors featured on Tiavalya Befecadu’s Alabama Authors quilt.
• Alabama Authors Quilting Event - March 25 at 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Celebrating the Alabama Authors Quilt exhibit in conjunction with the Historic Huntsville Foundation, the South Huntsville Library is hosting an event for local quilters and quilting groups to teach new techniques and meet other quilting organizations. This event recognizes the art of quilting and aims to provide an opportunity for quilters to meet, teach and learn about their varied organizations and craft guilds. This event is open to any level of ability or interest.
Sponsored by:
