Studio Art Quilt Exhibit Opening Reception: Local Color – Circular Thinking at Milford Arts Council

A new exhibition of contemporary fiber art will debut with an opening reception on Thursday, March 12, 2026, from 6 pm to 8 pm at the MAC Downtown Gallery at the Milford Arts Council, 40 Railroad Avenue South, Milford, CT 06460. The exhibition will remain on view through April 17, with gallery hours Tuesday through Friday from 12 pm to 4 pm.

Presented by the Connecticut Region of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA-CT), the exhibition Local Color: Circular Thinking features 36 original art quilts created by 21 textile artists. The works explore the many meanings and visual possibilities of the circle as a shape, symbol, concept, and metaphor. Through varied techniques and artistic interpretations, the exhibition reflects the enduring cultural and historical significance of this universal form.

The participating artists represent a diverse group from across the region, including fourteen from Connecticut. Among them is Milford artist Lin Elmo, whose works Watch Your Face…In the Face of the Watch and Stitches in Contrast are included in the exhibition. Additional artists hail from New York, Massachusetts, and Colorado.

The exhibition was juried by internationally recognized fiber artist Betty Busby of Albuquerque, New Mexico. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Busby initially worked in ceramics before establishing a ceramic tile manufacturing studio in Los Angeles. Since 2003, she has worked full time creating fiber art and teaching.

A catalog of the Circular Thinking exhibition will be available for purchase at the reception and online. After its Milford presentation, the exhibition will travel to the Windham Textile Museum from May 2 through June 28, Brookfield Craft Center from July 25 through August 22, and Wilton Library from August 31 through September 18.

Studio Art Quilt Associates is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting art quilts as creative visual works that are layered and stitched or inspired by the layered textile tradition. The organization includes more than 4,000 members worldwide, with more than 120 artists connected to Connecticut.

For more information, visit milfordarts.org or saqa.com.