In the West Gallery, The Plywood Quilt is activated by , a Minneapolis organization that collects, preserves, and makes accessible the plywood protest murals created during the Minneapolis Uprising of 2020. In preparation for a forthcoming exhibition of the murals at St. Catherine University in the fall of 2025, The Plywood Quilt highlights MTM’s community-based “Paint to Express” workshops, which are designed to center and be a place of peace for the BIPOC community by uplifting their stories and their art. Leesa Kelly, Executive Director of MTM, and Amira McLendon, Collections Manager for MTM, explain:
"The Plywood Quilt is a tapestry of stories, identities, and lived experiences created by our Twin Cities community. Each 12”x12” plywood panel, created in Paint to Express workshops presented by Memorialize the Movement from 2022–2025, carries its own unique perspective. Yet, when viewed together, the quilt reveals an undeniable truth—our stories, though distinct, are deeply connected."
During the exhibition, visitors are invited to add to the installation by making their own miniature mural at Paint to Express Workshops hosted by MTM:
For ASL interpretation or other accommodations for these workshops, please contact nmwatson@stkate.edu.
