Textile art honoring Day of the Dead on display at TDL

Colorful calavera skulls, floral blooms, and memories come alive through fabric and stitches at the Tecumseh District Library, where textile artworks celebrating Dia de los Muertos are now on display. The exhibit invites visitors to explore the Mexican tradition of honoring loved ones who have passed, while showcasing the creative storytelling power of textile art.

The display features one quilt and 18 individual fabric-based artworks, all crafted by Knot Even Quilters, a local group of textile artists that meet every third Thursday of the month at the library.

“It’s primarily women from art and textile backgrounds who want to move towards non-traditional art,” group moderator Kathy Schmidt said. “We all have different skill levels, so we are teaching each other as we go. Most of us come from a quilting background but some come from fiber arts, cross stitch and weaving. We experiment, learn, and promote textile art.”

The club began working on the Dia de los Muertos project in April 2025, combining newly made pieces with others from previous displays the club has done for the holiday.

“It’s a beautiful celebration of memories of those who have passed, and the visual expression of those memories has great appeal to us as artists,” Schmidt said. “We wanted to express the beauty of those memories with different kinds of colors and designs. Every sugar skull is different because every person we are celebrating is different.”

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican holiday traditionally celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2 to honor and remember deceased loved ones. Families create altars decorated with flowers, candles, photographs, food and more to welcome back the souls of their departed relatives. Blending ancient Aztec rituals with Spanish Catholic traditions, the holiday celebrates the lives of ancestors and the joy of reunion between the living and the dead.

Members of the Knot Even Quilters club were free to interpret the theme however they wished, with no creative restrictions. The result is an exhibit with pieces that vastly range in size and style.

The largest piece is a vibrantly colored, nine-block quilt made by Schmidt that depicts several skulls brimming with personality, including one wearing headphones and another donning a top hat. The quilt was previously displayed in the Pacific Northwest Quilt and Fiber Arts Museum in La Conner, Wash.

“I was inspired and wanted to put together a more traditional-looking quilt that was still non-traditional and celebrated the Day of the Dead,” Schmidt said. “I just wanted to show a lot of different personalities.”

Other notable works in the exhibit include a multicolor, paisley-esque quilt block with an intricately embroidered white skull at its center, created by Kathy Koch, and a playful quilt block skull sporting a pirate hat done by Kathy Smith. Some of the other artists incorporated beads, faux insects, and jewelry to enhance the depth of their works.

“I really don’t have a favorite in the display. I love them all,” Schimidt said. “But I think this one expresses the beauty of the holiday.” She pointed out a larger piece done by Renee Bradley that depicts a skeleton wearing a lavish bouquet atop its head against a pale pink background. The work features delicate embroidery, ribbons tied around the wrists, and artificial flower accents that add texture and dimensionality.

Other contributors to the exhibit include Annette Tolley, Denise Duda, Trish Fanning, Julia Freeman and Sheila Schroeder.  

“We have a group of very talented artists,” Schmidt said. “A huge shout out to the library for being a great resource available to us and for giving us the opportunity.”

Schmidt encourages patrons of the library to view the display not just because of its festive nature, but because it also offers an opportunity to reflect.

“It really helps you find your memories of people you loved,” she said. “It gives you a focus for thinking about the good things they brought you, and this is just a beautiful visual way to celebrate that.”

The Dia de los Muertos textile art exhibit will be on display through November 2 in the fireplace area of the Tecumseh District Library, 215 N. Ottawa St. Library hours are Sunday 1 p.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., and Friday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Knot Even Quilters club welcomes new members and meets every third Thursday of the month at the Tecumseh Public Library. For additional information, contact Kathy Schmidt at 517-990-7027.