“We Can Do It!: Feminist Stitching by Barbara Schulman” defiantly graced the walls at the Fine Art Gallery at Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, Allentown.

The exhibition was a casualty of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shutdown. Many of the works can be viewed on the artist’s website.

“Launched during Women’s History Month, this exhibit presents empowering works of art that challenges misogyny and sexism,” says Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center Executive Director Adrian Shanker.

With “We Can Do It” (2018, painted, dyed, machine-stitched fabric, digital images, commercial badges, mirrors, 37 in. x 37 in.), Schulman incorporates patches that feature World War II’s Rosie the Riveter with “We Can Do It!” throughout the boldly colorful crazy quilt of parallelograms, as well as patches featuring mermaids, women, small circular pieces that resemble merit badges, and railroad-themed cloth patches.

Her graphic artist husband is a “railroad man,” whom Schulman says was the inspiration for the train-themed images.

“I don’t plan anything,” says Schulman. Her quilted collages are often assembled with leftover fabric, pieces of Indian mirrored fabric, or cast-aside former projects.

“It’s supposed to keep away the ‘evil eye,’” says the artist about the tiny circular mirrors sewn into the cloth.

“I’m obsessed with braids and hair and big hair,” Schulman says, referring to her self-portrait, “I Am Everyone” (2019, dyed, painted, machine-stitched fabric, mirrors, 30 in. x 30 in. x 1.5 in.).

The five women’s faces with braided and flowing hair are intertwined in the complicated, heavily-sewn textile art piece that appears to be in perpetual motion.

Hidden in plain sight is the face Schulman identifies as hers. Look closely and one can also see eyes staring back in unexpected places. This work had previously hung in the Rotunda Gallery during the Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission’s “The Last Picture Show” exhibit in 2019.

“Lacemaker’s Daughter” (circa 2005, hand embroidery on dyed industrial wool felt, 2.5 in. x 15 in. x 13 in.) is an example of Schulman’s “textile vessels.” The three-dimensional work of a black and red dress with white hand stitching that resembles lace strikes a dance pose with its invisible wearer.

“I Am the One” (2016, dyed cotton, painted, altered commercial badges, quilted, machine stitched, 31.75 in. x 21.75 in.) features decorated sugar skull images, fire, and a ghostly figure flipping the bird with a bony hand. The images are framed by the words, “I am the one who loves changing from nothing to no one ...”

Its companion, “Bullies in Hell” (2017, dyed cotton, painted, altered commercial badges, quilted, machine stitched, 29 in. x 21.5 in.), is another darkly political work depicting melting male bodies with burning skulls and flaming hair.

Schulman says her fabric pieces were created in protest of the results of the 2016 presidential election.

The Bethlehem-based artist received an M.F.A. from Kent State University and has taught design, weaving, and other textile techniques at Kutztown University, as well as other colleges, including Kent.

The exhibit was curated by Deborah Rabinsky.

The Fine Art Gallery at Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, 522 W. Maple St. at Bayard Rustin Way, Allentown, Gallery hours: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Friday, Closed Saturday and Sunday. www.bradburysullivancenter.org; 610-347-9988; www.barbaraschulman.com