Quilted truths with Beverly Y. Smith

Show Notes

Takeaways from this episode:

• Quilting as a portal to ancestry. 

  Beverly’s quilts are stitched with family memory and Southern tradition, often layered with vintage fabrics and hidden symbols that echo the Underground Railroad. Her work becomes a tangible way to honour her ancestors and tell their stories through cloth.

• Grief and healing through fabric.

  In pieces like Evangeline, Beverly processes personal loss alongside historical trauma. Hand-stitching becomes a meditative, therapeutic act – a way to feel close to those who’ve passed and to understand her own history more deeply.

• Research is an act of devotion.

  Beverly’s creative process is rooted in rigorous research – from ancestral records and oral histories to old obituaries and shopping ledgers. This dedication to accuracy ensures that the names and lives of her ancestors are preserved and honoured.

• The power of storytelling in stitch.

  Whether drawing figures in graphite on canvas or piecing together old feed sacks, Beverly’s quilts are layered with meaning. Symbols, gestures, and fabric choices all work together to carry stories – some personal, others collective – into the present.

• Every artist must create from the heart.

  Beverly encourages artists to embrace their stories, especially those that feel vulnerable. "Those stories that you hid underneath, that you felt ashamed of – those are the stories that will set you free."

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Explore the artwork from this episode below

During the live interview, we shared some images of Beverly’s artwork. Since you’re listening to the podcast version, we’ve made some images available for you below.