The project, titled Protect Our Piece, centers on a custom couch hand-stitched by Chicago-based fiber artist Chelsea B. It currently features 19 distinct panels representing pillars of the Black experience, ranging from the legacy of HBCUs and the power of the Black vote to the resilience of Black-owned businesses. Danielle Young, an art director at the agency BarkleyOKRP, conceived the installation after reflecting on her grandmother’s home, where the plastic cover served as a physical boundary between everyday life and a cherished, protected space.

At CultureCon on October 3 and 4, attendees are invited to contribute to the archive by nominating new themes for future embroidery. As the couch travels to galleries and institutions across the country, it will evolve, physically absorbing new narratives from the public. While the installation makes its latest stop at Building 216 in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the organizers are already looking ahead, with hopes of securing a permanent place for the project in cultural landmarks like the Smithsonian or the Obama Presidential Center. Those unable to attend in person can submit their own contributions through the project's website.