FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Cumberland County Public Library (CCPL) announces the opening of Creative Collaborations: Artist in Residence Culminating Exhibit, Woven Connections scheduled for Saturday, June 27 at 3 p.m. at Headquarters Library, 300 Maiden Lane, Fayetteville.
The exhibit will open to the public with an Artist Talk by the library’s inaugural Artist in Residence, Kia Love, followed by the official opening of the month-long exhibition.
Members of the media are also invited to attend.
Woven Connections highlights the artistic journey and community engagement fostered throughout Kia Love’s residency with CCPL. During her residency with the library, Love led 14 textile arts programs for patrons of all ages across all eight CCPL locations. She also partnered with three Cumberland County high schools to provide tapestry workshops for more than 60 local students.
“This exhibition is a true milestone for my studio practice,” said Kia Love. “The residency gave me the room to experiment with new techniques and scales, while the community programs kept me grounded and inspired. Woven Connections bridges those two worlds, and I can't wait to share the final pieces and discuss the process behind them.”
The exhibit will feature a diverse collection of textile works including rugs, tapestries, wall hangings, a quilt and interactive installations that explore the themes of community, connection and creativity. Many pieces draw inspiration from conversations and relationships formed during the residency.
Materials, colors and patterns incorporated throughout the exhibit celebrate the stories, lived experiences and cultural heritage of Cumberland County residents.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the incredible impact Kia has had throughout her residency,” said Deputy Library Director Gracey Brandt. “This exhibit highlights not only her artistic talent, but also the meaningful connections and creativity that developed through her work with our patrons and community.”
The exhibit is set to remain open through Friday, July 31, 2026.
Creative Collaborations: Artist in Residence at CCPL is where creativity meets community. To learn more about Kia Love, visit www.kialove.com/about. For more information about the Artist in Residence program, visit cumberlandcountync.gov/library/artist-in-residence or email creativecollaborations@cumberlandcountync.gov.
For additional information about CCPL and its upcoming events, visit cumberlandcountync.gov/library, call 910-483-7727 or follow CCPL on social media @CCPLNC.
This program was supported by grant funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (IMLS grant number LS-259195-OLS-25).