SE Regional Exhibition: The 6000 Circles Project
Healing Mandala
Diameter: 11 in.
This quilt uses hand embroidery, applique, vibrant threads, hand-dyed fabrics, and bold stitching techniques, forming an intricate mandala-inspired design.
A collection of quilted circles symbolizing unity and artistic expression.
Eco-Art Caucus: Environmental Traveling Sketchbook
A collection of artistic expression.
Fauna Exhibition. The SE Center for Art Virtual Gallery
The Year of the Cicadas
11 x 18 in.
Mixed media on fabric. This piece uses hand-stitched embroidery, appliqué, and fabric paint. The layered textures depict trees with details, framed by a green fabric border.
The Places We Go. Show at Huntsville Hospital
Fernando's Garden
32 x 31 in.
Built on a background crazy quilt patchwork. Using recycled fabrics, with appliqué techniques for trees, leaves, and butterflies. Embellishments include embroidery stitches and layered fabric to create a textured, nature-inspired scene.
A selection of quilts designed to bring warmth and inspiration to hospital visitors and staff.
ALWCA The Feminine-Body, Mind, and Spirit
Self Portrait
22 x 24 in
2025.
This quilt features cotton, wool, and felt fabrics with embroidery, appliqué, and patchwork techniques. Hand-stitched using running, chain, and French nots.
6000 Circles Exhibition
Peace
Diameter:
11 in
.
This quilt incorporates appliqué, hand stitching, patchwork with floral and geometric fabrics, embroidery, and bold text embellishments to symbolize peace.
A collaborative quilt initiative reflecting interconnectedness through circular forms.
2025 ALWCA Second Floor South Gallery Exhibition
Secret Garden
10.0 x 10.5 in
2020.
Recycled fabric, appliqué, and hand-stitched embroidery using cotton thread. The techniques include fabric layering and intricate embroidery stitches. The quilt features a quote from Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel The Secret Garden: 'The secret garden bloomed and bloomed, and every morning revealed new miracles.'
TOWARDS 2050
Various quilts exploring themes of sustainability and the future of our planet.
AAMU Solo Exhibition: Displayed at the AAMU Art Gallery (2024)
Alabama A&M Art Gallery Features Spanish Professor's Solo Textile Exhibition
Spanish professor, Susana Vizcarra, is showcasing her solo exhibition, “Collections of Textiles,” at the AAMU Art Gallery in the R.D. Morrison Fine Arts Building, available for viewing through October 31. Originally from Uruguay, Vizcarra’s exhibit reflects her lifelong journey in textile arts, starting from her teenage years when she first learned embroidery in her home country.
“This early experience ignited my artistic inspiration,” explains Vizcarra. “Nearly 30 years ago, after moving to the U.S. with my family, I discovered quilting, merging my love for textiles with my background in embroidery.”
Over the years, Vizcarra has crafted a variety of quilts, from decorative wall hangings to functional baby quilts, each piece marking a significant step in her artistic evolution. In 2018, after the loss of her youngest son, Fernando, her work took a deeply personal turn.
“I transformed his clothing into a memorial quilt, an emotional process that shifted my approach,” she shares. “Since then, I’ve created nearly 15 ‘In Memoriam’ quilts dedicated to Fernando, incorporating applique, embroidery, and hand-dyed fabrics, each element chosen to honor his memory.”
Beyond the memorial series, Vizcarra has completed nearly 30 other quilts, including
garden-themed pieces inspired by her own backyard, and quilts featuring quotes, reflecting her passion for literature. Her work explores abstract designs, pushing artistic boundaries in the world of quilting.
“Quilting has become a source of solace and a means of self-expression, helping me navigate the complexities of grief and joy,” says Vizcarra. “What began as an early teenage inspiration has evolved into a profound and ever-growing body of work.”
Vizcarra holds a B.A. in Latin American Studies and an M.A. in Romance Languages, with a focus on Spanish and Portuguese, from Texas Tech University. She also earned an M.A. in English from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She has been a professor of Spanish at Alabama A&M University for the past five years.
There will be a closing reception for the exhibit on Tuesday, October 29 at 12:30 p.m. in the gallery.
"PECOS." Roswell Convention & Civic Center, Roswell, NM
Fernando's Garden 32 x 31 in Built on a background crazy quilt patchwork. Using recycled fabrics, with appliqué techniques for trees, leaves, and butterflies. Embellishments include embroidery stitches and layered fabric to create a textured, nature-inspired scene.
Nature Is Our Best Friend (2014)
Public Library, Madison, AL
Vizcarra’s art pieces now on display at Madison Public Library
Suzanna Vizcarra created this book art, "Nature Is Our Best Friend" with fresh leaves from different plants in her garden.
Vizcarra is an Uruguayan-American writer and professor of literature and languages.
As a visual artist, Vizcarra works and experiments with different types of materials. “I’ve been always curious and have the desire for expressing my thoughts using concrete materials, along with words,” she said.
At the library, Vizcarra is exhibiting her “handmade books.” In 2013, she participated in the “Ritual” art show in Philadelphia, Pa. and made three small books representing a poem, “Mayan Dreams,” about Mayan art and culture.
“I made the books resembling the codices,” Vizcarra said. “The Mayan registered everything in their codices from history to science, philosophy, literature and religion.” Tragically, thousands of codices were burned during the Spanish conquest.
She constructed her two handmade books at the library with recycled materials, papier-mâché, ink, watercolors, prints and calligraphy. To complete her small books, Vizcarra worked for three weeks. “I made the book structure first and then worked the images separately,” she said. “Usually, the thinking of a project takes longer.”
Each book represents two different journals.
“My Little Calligraphy Book.” “The little book called ‘Nature Is Our Best Friend’ depicts fresh leaves from different plants from my garden. Sometimes, we don’t have time to observe the beauty in nature that surrounds us,” she said.
In addition in Madison, Vizcarra is showing the first two pieces that she created: engraved gourds. This work won awards for sculpture at the Lubbock Art Alliance Gallery.
Currently, her “Accordion Book” on display at the Kalamazoo Book Arts depicts images in watercolor and ink. She also is working on a project, “Envelope as a Canvas,” for an October art show in Cambridge, Mass.
Piñatas (2014)
Public Library, Madison, AL
Preparing a Piñata
MADISON – Susana Vizcarra’s latest workshop at Madison Public Library will explain construction and the history of pinatas.
This free session on March 8 will meet from noon to 3 p.m. This educational program is intended for adults and 10-year-olds and older.
“I have a passion for the Spanish language and Latin-American culture,” Vizcarra said. “My family and I have been living in Madison for several years. I like to share this activity with the people of Madison as a way to give back to the community that I love.”
Most people associate pinatas with a Mexican tradition. “However, pinatas appeared for the first time in Chinese history as early as the ninth century,” Vizcarro said.
Those pinatas were made of clay or gourds, shaped like a cow or an ox and represented a good omen for the coming year, she said.
In the 14th century, Marco Polo brought pinatas to Europe. Spanish Augustinian monks brought clay or paper mache pinatas to America for religious celebrations. Filled with candy (temptations), pinatas had seven points representing the seven deadly sins.
“Today, pinatas are used in Mexico in practically every occasion,” Vizcarra said. “The custom was imported to the United States by Mexican immigrants and today is very popular in children’s parties.”
To make a pinata, participants will use one balloon, tissue paper, a disposable bowl and spoon, glue, flour, water, poster paper, newspapers, scissors and one yard of rope.
The class will make “engrudo paste, a mix of water and flour” and use newspaper strips to cover the inflated balloon. Next, they will make cones for the points. Finally, the pinata is covered in tissue paper for decoration.
Vizcarra is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and teaches Spanish Language and Culture during summer sessions.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in Latin American and Iberian studies and a master’s degree in Spanish at Texas Tech University and a master’s degree in English at UAH.
Sacred Memories (2013)
Gallery at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument
The Catrina and the Mariachi Puppet Theater
Sabor Hispano (2008)
Museum of Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
Sculpture Category Award
