Asheville -- October 28, 2026: In an era dominated by rapid-fire digital feeds and ephemeral media, the Buncombe County Register of Deeds is slowing down the civic conversation—one careful stitch at a time.
On Thursday, Oct. 29, the Register of Deeds office at 205 College St. will unveil Quilts for a Cause, a new gallery installation featuring 17 works created by members of the Western North Carolina Modern Quilt Guild. The collection serves as an artistic celebration of American democracy and the hard-won fight for voting rights, mounted in the very halls where public records, civic history, and community milestones are preserved.
The public is invited to an opening reception on Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m. to meet the regional makers behind the pieces. Following opening night, the exhibition will remain on view daily to the public through July.
Craft as Civic Metaphor
The exhibit uses the foundational language of quilting to explore civic participation. In Appalachian heritage, quilting has long been both a practical craft and a communal act, gathering disparate scraps of cloth into an enduring, cohesive whole. For the featured artists, that tradition mirrors the delicate architecture of a democratic society: varied perspectives and voices bound together by shared civic threads.
Responding to a guild prompt centered on democratic values and the franchise, the artists combined centuries-old textile traditions with cutting-edge construction. Visitors will find meticulous hand-piecing and traditional appliqué sharing gallery space with automation, foundation paper piecing, and unexpected materials borrowed from modern art movements.
The result is a visually rich, multi-layered examination of American history—rooted in mountain tradition, yet decidedly contemporary.
Sustaining Democratic Values
Buncombe County Register of Deeds Drew Reisinger, who championed the installation, sees the office’s physical space as a natural venue for civic reflection.
“Many of the quilts on display celebrate the expansion of voting rights, civil rights, and the hope that we will uphold the democratic values that we have enjoyed and fought to expand over our first 250 years as a nation,” Reisinger said.
With the gallery running through the summer, organizers hope the exhibit offers downtown visitors and county residents more than just an aesthetic pause. It stands as a tactile reminder of the patience, collaboration, and constant upkeep required to sustain both traditional Appalachian craft and a participatory democracy.
Event Details:
Event: Quilts for a Cause Art Installation
Opening Reception: Thursday, Oct. 29, from 5 to 6 p.m.
Exhibit Dates: On view daily through July
Location: Buncombe County Register of Deeds, 205 College St., downtown Asheville
Admission: Free and open to the public