STEW

Join us on September 10 to celebrate the opening of AIR 17's Final Exhibition, 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm, at Textile Arts Center (505 Carroll Street, NY, 11215).

On view: September 12 - 24, 2026 (gallery hours: Sat–Thurs 11am–9pm / Fri: Closed)

“Stew” features works by the 17th cycle of Textile Arts Center’s Artist In Residence program, curated by Romina Schulz.

“A stew, a slowly cooked dish, serves as a metaphor for dedication to the homemade and the collective. It is a gathering of distinct ingredients, each carrying its own texture, history, and flavor, and through sustained proximity, they transform one another. Consider the time it takes to chop and simmer the elements. This commitment to sit with the low fire and tend to the mixture is a practice of care, whether it is for the domestic labor itself, or for the soil that provides the components, or for the community fed by the stew. Let it cook gently, and everything will become tender. In this tenderness there is a memory of home.

At the same time, “to stew” refers to being in deep reflection, pondering, not moving or taking any action. It can also mean to overthink, from a place of anxiety or overwhelm. Thus, rather than an act of intentional simmering, stewing can become stagnation.

The artists' works hold the complexities of this title. The pieces on display reveal a dedication to the details, to each element and its mixture, inviting the viewers to linger with them. Some artists, through natural dyeing, echo the literal act of “stewing,” for their fabrics almost need to be slowly cooked. Some offer a memory of home, a recipe for loved ones. While others respond to the lack of forward momentum, screaming for a response. While time for critical discussion and reflection is needed, we cannot remain beside the cooking pot. Eventually, the cooking is done and the stew is shared.” (Romina Schulz + AIR 17)

TAC AIR17: Mateo Gutiérrez, Cici Osias, Margaret Roleke, Seyoung Hong, Diana Eusebio, Alessandro Levato, Vero Bello, Vic Liu.

Follow: @mgutierreznyc, @its.cicii, @margaretroleke, @seyoung_h, @DianaEusebioStudio, @levato_archive, @verobellostudio, @v_isforvic