Newcomb Art Museum of Tulane is proud to be a featured participant in Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026 — a nationwide semiquincentennial initiative to showcase the importance of the handmade both throughout our history and in contemporary life.
Presented by Craft in America, Handwork 2026 is a year-long collaboration among organizations, educators, and makers to celebrate the diversity of the crafts that define America, bringing compelling stories and underrepresented art and artists into the spotlight.
Opening at the Newcomb Art Museum in August, "Quiet Reserve: Stitching an Ambitious New Woman" will examine embroidery’s role as a professional and artistic practice at H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College in the early twentieth century. The college’s needlework curriculum encouraged students to see embroidery as both creative expression and viable career training, reshaping ideas about women’s labor and independence in the U.S. South.
Featuring textiles, sketches, and tools, "Quiet Reserve" showcases Newcomb’s emphasis on raw materials, precise stitching, and vibrant Tussah silk threads. The exhibition offers a vivid look at the artistry, technique, and innovation that shaped Newcomb embroidery.
More than 250 organizations nationwide have joined this initiative, each contributing exhibitions and events that showcase the depth and diversity of American craft. Visit to learn more.
@handwork2026 @craftinamerica #craft250 #handwork2026 #craftinamerica #newcomb #newcombcollege #newcombpottery
Images: Four Newcomb College students working on embroidery and pottery, undated. Newcomb Wall Hanging, c. 1905–1915, Helen DeGrange McLellan, silk embroidery on linen, 57” x 39”, The Historic New Orleans Collection, 2017.0080.75.
