🔥✨ Stitch & Soul Studio Blog: "The Stars Whisper Her Name" – A Cosmic Tribute to Lena Horne at the Black History Museum ✨🔥
🔥✨ Stitch & Soul Studio Blog: "The Stars Whisper Her Name" – A Cosmic Tribute to Lena Horne at the Black History Museum ✨🔥
Hello, Beautiful Souls!
Today, I am bursting with pride as I celebrate my mixed-media artwork, "The Stars Whisper Her Name," being currently showcased at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia (BHMVA) in Richmond! This exhibition is part of the larger series "Bodies of Labor: Hands That Built a Nation," which runs through December 16, 2025 Let’s dive into the magic of this piece and why it’s a must-see for anyone who believes in the power of art, heritage, and cosmic dreaming.
🎨 About the Artwork: "The Stars Whisper Her Name"
This embroidered masterpiece is a tribute to the legendary Lena Horne, whose life transcended the boundaries of art and activism. This piece reimagines Horne as an interstellar pilot, navigating the cosmos with grace and power. Crafted on canvas with embroidery thread and a touch of okra dust—a material deeply rooted in African American culinary and agricultural history—the work bridges earthly traditions and celestial visions
Okra, brought to the Americas during the transatlantic slave trade, symbolizes resilience and cultural continuity By incorporating it into her art, Conya honors the ingenuity of ancestors who turned humble ingredients into sustenance and soul.
🌌 Why Lena Horne? Why Afrofuturism?
Lena Horne was more than a Hollywood star; she was a civil rights icon who used her platform to challenge racial injustice. In "The Stars Whisper Her Name," I draw parallels between Horne’s activism and the Afrofuturist theme of liberation through imagination. Here, Horne isn’t just a performer—she’s a cosmic navigator, guiding us toward a future where Black brilliance shines unchecked. This aligns perfectly with Stitch & Soul’s mission to blend heritage craftsmanship with Afrofuturist dreams
👩🏾‍🎨 Artist Spotlight: My Journey
I am a self-taught artist and Bedford native that grew up in a family of farmers, factory workers, coal miners, quilters, and herbalists—a lineage that fuels her creative vision. My grandmother Geraldine, a quilter, was my first teacher, instilling in her the power of thread as narrative. After serving in the U.S. Army as a Psychological Operations specialist, I returned to my roots beginning with founding Rising Rooted Apothecary and later Stitch and Soul to merge art, healing, and community storytelling
🏛️ Exhibition Details: Plan Your Visit!
Where: Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia
122 West Leigh Street, Richmond, VA 23220 3When: Now through December 16, 2025
Hours: Wednesday–Saturday, 10 AM–5 PM 3
Admission: Adults $10, Seniors/Students $8, Children 4–12 $6 3
Pro Tip: Check out the museum’s guided tours and other exhibits, like "Bodies of Labor," which explores Black American contributions to the nation’s workforce 3.
🌟 Why This Exhibit Matters
The BHMVA is not just a museum; it’s a keeper of untold stories. By showcasing my work, it amplifies the narrative of Black Appalachians—a community often erased from mainstream history. This piece’s use of okra dust and embroidery, echoes the museum’s mission to "share, interpret, and preserve" Black American culture It’s a reminder that artistic expression is a form of resistance and remembrance.
✊️ Join the Conversation
We invite you to visit the exhibition and reflect on these questions:
How does art help us reimagine our past and future?
What stories are whispered in the materials we use—whether thread, okra, or soil?
How can we, like Lena Horne, pilot our own journeys toward justice and beauty?
Share your thoughts with us on social media using #StitchAndSoul and #StarsWhisperHerName!
đź’« Final Stitch
My work is my testimony to the idea that every stitch holds a story, and every story has a soul. As I often say, "We are not just making art; we are weaving legacy." Don’t miss this chance to witness a piece of that legacy in person.
With love and thread,
Conya