Reflections on an Exhibition: My Journey Bringing 80 Makers Together

I first envisioned Threaded Paths: Global Stories In the late winter months of 2025, while recovering from multiple surgeries, During this time, I spent many hours confined to bed with restricted movement, creating art in a manner reminiscent of Frida Kahlo, supported and working from a single position for extended periods. I was halfway through my sabbatical year — a time already rich with artistic experiences and broad travel (refer to earlier blog posts) — and I was keen to continue creating and increasingly desired community.

 47:Toward Illumination and Boundaries and Borders, Valerie Marcus Ramshur

I envisioned a project similar to my own sabbatical, involving stitched stories based on both ancestral and everyday journeys, to be created by a small group of friends and family who I knew would be eager to craft something and share their stories. I expected to gather perhaps twenty squares at most, thirty if I was fortunate. My plan was to assemble them into a single large piece. However, only a handful from my original group could or would participate. I felt disheartened, even foolish, for thinking I could accomplish this.

Then something remarkable happened. When I extended the invitation beyond my comfort zone of loving friends to include a larger group of colleagues, even strangers, more than 80 creators from around the world responded.

Catching Shadows, Marianna Del Castillo, Australia , NSW

Primus Inter Pares  (First Among Equals(, Michael Pavelka, London, England, UK

What started as a simple experiment evolved into a vast collection of memory, movement, and artistry, crafted square by square and contributed from 18 countries and 18 U.S. states. I became a custodian of these stories, receiving and showcasing each one just as it was submitted on a newly created Instagram gallery. https://www.instagram.com/threadedpaths/ ,

I vowed to myself and the creators that I would not change a word of their stories. Their remarkable journeys quickly became the backbone of our archive and then a gallery guide, transforming the exhibition into a powerful means of global connection, surpassing all my expectations. It became clear that these stories wanted to stand alone yet interact with each other, not as one unified piece but as a community sharing a space. But where could I present this? Online wasn't sufficient; I wanted to take it off the screen and "reel life " and into "real life".

L to R: Not Near So Far As From There To Here, Christopher Cartmill NY,USA, Propagations , Chris Bowen/Marilia Bezerra, USA, Brazil and The Netherlands, She’s Leaving Home, Christianne Myers, Ann Arbor MI, USA, 3rd Culture Canvas, Charlot Kryza,  Austria and  New Jersey

I found that home. After the still-unfinished project was submitted and accepted into New York Textile Month, it began progressing at a pace I usually associate with Broadway productions. Behind the daily social media updates was a fervent and intense effort: late-night planning and grant writing, shipping delays, unexpected customs paperwork, spreadsheets and budgets, emails and deadlines, all while striving to honor each individual story.

I quickly realized that expectations need room to grow. Processes must be adaptable for real people with real lives. Staying open allowed something richer, more authentic, and more life-affirming to emerge, especially when witnessing the work of first-time creators displayed alongside seasoned professionals.

Lto R: Find Your Way, Melinda Schwakfofer, Dartmoor, UK, Layers Of My Childhood Journey, Rissy Monagle

(Marisa)Malmsbury, Victoria Australia

One major challenge was figuring out how to incorporate all the written work associated with each piece. When typing up labels for the work, the walls became too text-heavy and overshadowed the actual textile work. Thus, the gallery guide approach was developed, allowing the work to remain the focal point. Another dilemma was deciding the arrangement of the pieces on the grid. A natural dialogue emerged when I allowed the pieces to express themselves and stopped trying to control the narrative.

L to R:  Today, Katia Bulbenko, Weehawken, NJ, USA, New World Metro, Heidi Hankaniemi, Finland, and NY, USA, Flora, Fauna, and a Monkey, Charlene Gross State College, PA, USA, Where is Home?, Clare Voelkel- Sedlmeir, Neuching, Germany

Along the way, three lessons emerged for me:

Trust—trusting contributors to meet deadlines (and forgiving when life got in the way), trusting that the work would arrive safely, and trusting myself to curate a space worthy of so many voices.

Flexibility—letting go of rigid expectations and embracing collaboration, which created a stronger, more resilient project where everyone felt ownership and agency.

Respect—accepting each piece as it arrived, giving it a home, and honoring the heart and risk each maker poured into their work. In Threaded Paths, no one person’s voice and vision was more important than anyone else’s, regardless of skill or level of accomplishment.

Layered Pathways, Rebekah Johnson, Nottingham, UK

Now, standing in the gallery, I do not just see textiles on the walls. I see a living testament to what happens when people  trust one another, take risks, and stitch their stories into a shared experience. Each square carries its maker’s history, hopes, and point of view. Together they form a collective narrative, both deeply personal and powerfully global.

Gallery Walls at 3rd Ethos Gallery, Bushwick, Brooklyn

Threaded Paths has reminded me that the journey, with all its challenges, pivots, and joys, is as meaningful as the finished work itself. This exhibition is not just an endpoint. It is proof that art can build community, create space for many voices, and reveal connections we did not know existed. That, for me, is the real work.

L to R: X-ODO Marko Guillén,  LA, CA,USA, Between Lens and Needle, Maria Sauze, LA,CA, USA, Heart and Lungs (inspiration), Sydney Cooper, Jacona, NM, USA

Looking ahead, I am thrilled to share that I am planning taking  Threaded Paths on the road. For the next year, a few future exhibitions will bring these stories to new audiences and keep expanding our global community of makers. If you are inspired by what you have seen, consider creating a square for the next round or helping us find new venues. Together we can keep this thread moving, weaving stories, and connecting people far beyond one gallery’s walls.

L to R: Lock 6, Maria Rosenblum Fort Edward, NY, USA, Landscapes of My Life, Amy Mitchell Weehawken, NJ, USA, From Furrows to Kestrels, Anne Baker, Somerset, England, UK,,The Lover’s Eye Carried, Andrea Maya, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, Leaving Home, Andrea Limauro Verona, Italy / Silver Springs, MD, Nānā I Ke Kapa, Maile Speetjens, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Moon in Sagittarius 7°04’, Ragna Frodadottir, Iceland and Weehawken, NJ, USA

I am deeply grateful to textile artist and director of New York Textile Month Ragna Froda for not only believing in this project but also  contributing her own piece.

To my sister in stitches, Connie Byun for opening the doors of 3rd Ethos Gallery in Bushwick. Connie’s community based approach to art and curation made her a dream partner.

3rd Ethos, Connie Byun, Brooklyn, NY, USA

Lastly, to the creators, thank you for taking a leap and committing yourselves to your roles. Many of you shared with me how the process was challenging, rewarding, and sometimes emotional. For many, it was the first time in years to sit quietly with unresolved thoughts or to work through current situations.

The beauty of working with fiber is in its requirement for breath and pause. Our hands traverse terrains and textures, and we return to the stitch as a meditative practice. Stitches are steps through time, history, and our own lives. By utilizing materials available to us, we can all tell a story one stitch at a time.

-Val

NOTE: This is just a glimpse of the show. Visit the gallery to experience everything! A detailed gallery guide with beautifully written work accompanies each piece.

Threaded Paths: Global Stories 

Closes October 5, 2025

3rd Ethos Gallery, 184 Unit B, Noll St, Brooklyn.

Gallery hours are 2 to 10 PM.

Links:

Threaded Paths on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/threadedpaths/:

New York Textile Month: https://www.textilemonth.nyc/

3rd Ethos Gallery: https://www.instagram.com/3rdethos_gallery?fbclid=IwY2xjawM-dIhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFvUEVBSlE2MlM2aTFWSzlLAR5Fzb8UIZ7jHRo6pYkABohvvLmVsEkshx5YReV42CiSW1ZhDHhSedMi6E_WwQ_aem_R6oqeWevlZuxi8vm6oQpvw