Books hold stories. Art makes them visible. Community gives us somewhere to encounter them together.

Before a Ruin; a Cry presents the tapestry-like quilts of visual storyteller, Josie Love Roebuck, in conversation with literature. Hosted by Household Books and curated by Caressa Layne, the exhibition sits at the intersection of literary and visual art. The work tells a story that began in tears--a fury that transformed into a warning. 

Through imagery and installation, Roebuck transforms grief and rage into a visual language that warns, witnesses, and pleads. Rather than catharsis, Roebuck's work serves as a call to action. 

At its heart, the exhibition considers the powerful capacity of both art and literature to move us. The capacity to make visible what has been hidden, preserve what might otherwise be forgotten, and deepen our understanding of one another. Together, they create space for stories to transcend the page, inviting us not only to witness, but demanding us to feel, question, and respond.

Household Books from October 2 through November 6, 2026. An opening reception and artist talk, moderated by curator and writer Caressa Layne, was held on October 10 at 2 PM.