zig and zag
Racine art museum - 2026
September 18 – Mid-Fall (Weather Dependent) 2026 at Racine Art Museum
Amanda Browder - written by Racine Art Museum
Known for her fabric installations that combine color, scale, and community to transform buildings into larger-than-life works of art, Browder will begin a limited-time residence at RAM this summer, working with local residents and guests to create a large-scale textile installation to adorn the exterior of RAM. During the conversation, she’ll share more information about this upcoming project, along with thoughts on her practice, process, and the power of collective making.
Browder’s new commission, Zig and Zag, will premiere as a featured project in RAM’s inaugural In/Between Festival, September 18 – 27, 2026.
Support for Zig and Zag is provided by Visit Racine County and We Energies Foundation.
FABRIC DONATIONS! - We need colorful cotton , non-stretch, saturated-colorful fabric. Pattern or Solid!
Colors : Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Fuchsia, Pink, Black, Rainbow, Sequins, Fluorescent Colors!
Donate in person at the Racine Art Museum or contact Ashley (click for email)
No clothing or white, tan, brown or pale colors.
Everyone
is welcome~!
No Experience Necessary!
Please come to one of the Public Sewing Days in the Racine, Wisconsin area and JOIN IN and help build this colorful textile work!
What is going to happen!
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Step 1
FABRIC DONATIONS
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Step 2
Pin and Stitch Together!
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Step 3
WEAVE the Building!
RACINE — Community members can help an artist transform the outside of the Racine Art Museum. This summer, Amanda Browder will begin working on “Zig and Zag,” a project that will weave colorful fabric between the Racine Art Museum’s acrylic-paneled exterior. The project is set to premiere Sept. 18.
Community members can donate fabric for the project through July 1 at the Racine Art Museum, 441 Main St., and Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, 2519 Northwestern Ave. Donated fabric should be non-stretchy opaque material, saturated solid colors or patterns, and at least one foot long in any direction, according to a news release. Clothing donations will not be accepted. Community members can then sew fabric at one or more public community sewing days hosted by Browder from July 21-31. “Zig and Zag” aims to transform “the Racine Art Museum into a living symbol of what happens when an institution opens its doors and says, 'This belongs to you,'” Browder said in the release. There is no age limit for sewing day attendees, but children should be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Browder has created more than 30 large-scale fabric installations around the globe using donated material. She aims to collaborate with community members so they feel ownership over the project. “When ‘Zig and Zag’ is complete, we'll come together and feel the pride and inspiration of having built something extraordinary,” Browder said in the release. “Not just for Racine, but with Racine.” “Zig and Zag” will be one of many works debuting during “In/Between,” RAM’s new festival of visual and performing arts Sept. 18–27. Browder’s project will be “a powerful example of how art brings people together and transforms how we experience a place,” RAM Executive Director Robb Woulfe said in the release. “Her work is a celebration of location, sustainability and the self-beautification of a town, made by the hands of the communities she visits.”
The community sewing days are scheduled to occur:
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 21 at the Dr. John Bryant Community Center, 601 Caron Butler Drive
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 22 at the Community Center at Douglas Park, 2221 Douglas Ave.
1-8 p.m. July 23 at the Wustum Museum, 2519 Northwestern Ave.
10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. July 24, at Sew ‘N’ Save of Racine, 3701 Durand Ave.
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 25, at the Racine Farmers Market at Festival Hall, 5 Fifth St.
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 27 at Lake Oaks Senior Apartment Homes, 1916 Wisconsin Ave.
4–8 p.m. July 28 at the Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St.
10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. July 29 at Sew ‘N’ Save of Racine, 3701 Durand Ave.
1-8 p.m. July 30 at Stitched Quilt Shop, 505 Sixth St.
Noon to 6 p.m. July 31 at Unraveled Creative Studio, 614 Sixth St.