Wayne Center for the Arts is honored to host A Common Thread, a deeply meaningful traveling exhibit celebrating the life and work of the late Ohio fiber artist Sue Cavanaugh. Now on view through August 7, 2025, this invitational show brings together over 45 artists who were influenced by Sue’s work, admired her creativity, or were moved by her dedication to using art as a force for change.

Before her passing, Sue left behind a large fabric installation—bold, layered, and reflective of her relentless curiosity and commitment to justice. Instead of allowing this final piece to fade into quiet storage, Caren Petersen of Muse Gallery and Art Services envisioned A Common Thread as a way to carry Sue’s work forward.

“An inspiring and inspired artist, a force of positivity, Sue was an artist we all admired,” says Petersen. “A Common Thread will honor her work, wherein artists will use parts/pieces of this installation in their own work, the concept being that artwork should be carried forward. They will create their own vision, in their own style, mixed with their own materials. The show will be dynamic and diverse. Not so much a tribute as a nod to eternity.”

Artists were invited to incorporate pieces of Sue’s fabric, transform it, or let its colors, textures, and spirit influence their own creations. The result is a vibrant and surprising collection of works that are visually diverse yet united by Sue’s fabric—a literal common thread linking each piece to her enduring influence.

“It’s such a great honor and inspiration to use her materials. To rescue the thread, I had to undo the knots and stitches that she did… Each step of this project has been a source of meditation and inspiration, especially the slow stitching. I feel honored to be part of this project carrying on Sue’s legacy of positivity, strength, and social justice activism.”
– Robie Benve, artist

“In my pieces, Las Tres Cascadas and Las Aguas, I felt as though I was in conversation with Sue Cavanaugh—the artist we are honoring in this exhibition. Before incorporating her fabric pieces into my own work, I took time to study them closely, observing how she manipulated and stitched them. Those observations challenged me to push my own skills and approach the work in new ways, ultimately leading to a response that felt both personal and uniquely inspired by Sue.”
– Dawn Petrill, artist

Meet the Artists

Featured artists include:

Catherine Bell-Smith, Robie Benvie, River Berry, Alice Carpenter, Dana Grubbe, Ann B. Kim, Ellen Knolls, Janette Knowles, Dalia Koppes, Randall LaGro, Jennifer Landau, Tom Megalis, Cody F. Miller, Paula Nees, Char Norman, Frauke Palmer, Gio Petersen, Dawn Petrill, Phoenix Rising Printmaking Cooperative (Karen Albanese Campbell, Anne Cushman, Judith Steele), Joy Pratt, Judy Rush, Barb Vogel, Jo Westfall, and Anona Wheeler.

Each artist has taken Sue’s fabric and vision in a new direction, sparking conversations about memory, influence, and the power of art to connect us across time.

An Exhibit That Keeps Growing

This exhibition has sparked such enthusiastic community response that it will continue to grow, traveling to additional venues through 2027. We are excited to share that the exhibit will extend to include a special show at the Riffe Gallery at the Ohio Statehouse, opening July 26, 2025, with a reception from 2–4 PM. Guests will have the opportunity to meet participating artists, hear about their creative process, and explore how each piece connects back to Sue’s legacy.

Visit and Experience

A Common Thread is free and open to the public in the Gault and Looney Galleries. Whether you are a fiber artist, an art lover, or simply curious about how creativity can continue a conversation across generations, we encourage you to visit and spend time with these inspiring works.