Thread by Thread How Kia Love's Residency Wove Art Into the Community

For the past eight months, something special has been happening inside the Cumberland County Public Library Headquarters.

Just beyond the bookshelves, visitors could step into Kia Love's working studio, watch her create, ask questions, and even learn a new skill. Now, that journey comes full circle with Woven Connections, an exhibition celebrating Kia as the very first Artist in Residence through the library's Creative Collaborations program.

As a textile artist, interior designer, and educator, Kia has made it her mission to help people see textiles in a new way. They're everywhere, from the clothes we wear and the furniture in our homes to the quilts and handmade pieces passed down through generations. Throughout the residency, she invited the community to slow down, work with their hands, and rediscover the stories that can be stitched into something as simple as a piece of fabric.

"We can't do much without textiles. It's part of our everyday lives." – Kia Love

That idea carries through the entire exhibition. Kia encourages visitors to take their time, read the artist statements, and experience the work as one connected story instead of rushing from piece to piece.

"I don't want you to rush. I'd appreciate if you read the descriptions and see how everything is literally connected and how it touches every aspect of community." – Kia Love

One of the first pieces visitors encounter is Interwoven, a large hand tufted textile that actually started as a bubble diagram on Kia's first day of the residency. It grew into a colorful map of connection, representing the relationships that bring a community together.

Across the gallery space, Family Dinner offers one of the exhibition's most personal moments. Featuring Kia, her daughter, and her sister surrounded by handmade quilts and garments she created herself, the installation celebrates family legacy while reminding us that handmade objects often carry stories from one generation to the next. Nearby, an unfinished community quilt and An Offering of Ground continue that conversation by honoring shared history, ancestry, and the people who came before us.

Other works, including The Linen Series and Saffron and Silk, showcase Kia's willingness to experiment with new techniques while staying rooted in themes of craftsmanship, connection, and community.

What makes this exhibition even more meaningful is everything that happened before these pieces made it to the gallery walls. Over the last eight months, the library became a creative gathering place where kids, adults, first time makers, and experienced artists could learn side by side. Workshops, conversations, and open studio hours gave people the chance to experience textile art up close and connect with an artist in a way that doesn't happen every day.

During the opening reception, Deputy Library Director Gracey Brandt reflected on what this moment means for both the program and the community.

"Thank you all for being here, for all of the support, and for helping us make all of this happen." – Gracey Brandt, Deputy Library Director

Commissioner Glenn Adams also encouraged everyone in attendance to help make sure opportunities like this continue.

"I need you all to send messages to your county commissioners that you believe this is a good program and that they need to fund this program because it's important." – Commissioner Glenn Adams

He went on to remind the audience why initiatives like this matter.

"We have to bring art to the people. We can't stay inside our walls. We've got to connect with our citizens." – Commissioner Glenn Adams

That message feels especially fitting after experiencing Woven Connections. This residency wasn't just about creating artwork. It was about opening doors, sharing knowledge, and showing what can happen when artists are given space to create in the middle of the community instead of behind closed studio doors.

As the Cumberland County Public Library wraps up this incredible chapter, Woven Connections sets the stage for what's possible next. Kia's residency has shown that when art, education, and community come together, they create something that lasts far beyond the gallery walls.

Woven Connections will be on view at the Cumberland County Public Library Headquarters through July 31, alongside student work created during the residency.

Creative Collaborations: Artist in Residence at CCPL is where creativity meets community. To learn more about Kia Love, visit www.kialove.com/about. For more information about the Artist in Residence program, visit cumberlandcountync.gov/library/artist-in-residence or email creativecollaborations@cumberlandcountync.gov.

Christina Miles

Art Director + Admin Lead

FAYNC Magazine