Palos Verdes Art Center / Beverly G. Alpay Center for Arts Education is pleased to announce 9 x 9: Contemporary Quilts and Containers, a showcase of artworks by 18 distinguished artists from California’s established fiber art community. Presenting innovative interpretations of traditional craft forms, these dynamic quilted, woven, plaited, and twined works investigate the purposes and potential of cross-cultural narratives and techniques through diverse media, expanding our understanding of visual culture. Material-based, conceptually engaged, and skillfully executed, these artists transform conventional quilting and container-making practices into sophisticated contemporary expressions. The exhibition is curated by Jo Lauria and Carrie Burckle, and features: Fafnir Adamites, Charlotte Bird, Lavialle Campbell, Joe Cunningham, Barbara Danzi, Lea Feinstein, Luke Haynes, Polly Jacobs-Giacchinna, Susan Jamart, Merrill Morrison, Kathy Nida, Caitlin Parker, Corine Pearce, Kay Sekimachi, Carol Shaw-Sutton, Karyl Sisson, Elise Vazelakis, and Nicki Voss. About Quilts The elevation of American quilts to fine art began at the 1876 Centennial International Exposition in Philadelphia, where intricately patterned and vibrantly colored quilts demonstrated how functional objects could transcend their humble origins through artistic vision. The 1970s American Fiber Movement further revolutionized the medium by moving quilts from bed to wall, as artists embraced diverse techniques, materials, and imagery to convey deeper meaning. The nine quilters featured here bring fresh perspectives to this legacy. Some create abstract compositions rivaling the visual impact of paintings, while others address pressing social, technological, and ecological challenges—inviting dialogue and inspiring hope. About Containers In contemporary fiber art, containers evolve beyond their fundamental purpose of holding and storing to become vessels for artistic expression. Artists combine traditional techniques—twining, coiling, knotting, and looping—with materials ranging from natural reed and grasses to commercial ribbons, found objects, plastics, and paper. Their works span from abstract sculptures to reimagined traditional forms, in scales from miniature to monumental. Whether working with quilts or containers, these eighteen artists honor craft traditions while pushing material boundaries. Their innovations embed contemporary narratives and meanings that resonate with our time.