FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | March 16, 2006 |
Contact: Carol Anne Baker, Media Relations Specialist
(804) 342-9665 email:
cabaker@vahistorical.org
VIRGINIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY COVERED IN QUILTS
A new exhibition, Quilts of the Old Dominion, is on display March 18–December 3, 2006
Richmond, VA – The Drunkard’s Path, Mariner’s Compass, Star of Hope, and Goosetracks are making their debut at the Virginia Historical Society this Saturday. For those of you familiar with these traditional patterns, you know this can mean only one thing: Quilts. Quilts of the Old Dominion runs with three rotations through December 3, 2006. This exhibition features quilts made in Virginia before 1900 and selected for display by a committee of the Virginia Consortium of Quilters. There will be three rotations, each displaying twenty quilts at a time: first, March 18 through May 31; second, June 1 through August 30; and third, September 1 through December 3. In each of the three rotations, five of the quilts are modern, showing the progression of art from one hundred years ago to the present day.
"Perhaps the most outstanding in the first rotation is Lone Stars with Appliqué," says Maren Lindberg of the Virginia Consortium of Quilters. "This quilt may be older than the lender thinks it is—one of our best appraisers/historians thinks it's older. Lone Stars are, of course, difficult to make, with all those points that need to be perfectly executed in order to make a visual impact. This one (and the others from this donor) is extremely well done. It has been well taken care of and is in perfect condition."
Other featured patterns include the ever-popular Crazy Quilt, as well as the Noonday, Farmer's Fancy, Ocean Waves, and Old Maid's Ramble. The quilts on display were made in Virginia and each comes with its own story of the woman who crafted it and how it has become a part of the family legacy of the owner. Tree Everlasting, scheduled for the June–August rotation, was made in 1850 in Bonsack, Roanoke County. The quilt maker was born in Bonsack and lived most of her life there. The quilt was on her farm during the Civil War and, family legend has it, was used by a wounded Union soldier, who promised not to burn the farmhouse if he was allowed to stay.
Quilts of the Old Dominion features a number of beautiful, expertly crafted quilts that carry with them not only the loving artwork of the hands that crafted them but also intriguing and memorable stories that warm the heart just as the quilts warms their owners.
Programming for the exhibition includes a gallery walk on Thursday, May 11 at 6:00 p.m. when Eileen "Bunnie" Jordan, noted quilt appraiser, collector, and historian will walk through the first rotation of the exhibition. Ms. Jordan will conduct a second gallery walk on Wednesday, November 8 at noon for the final rotation of quilts. Additionally, the VHS is hosting a Quilt Appraisal on Saturday, May 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. where Ms. Jordan will give 15-minute verbal evaluations of quilts brought in ($15 per item, reservations suggested, visit www.vahistorical.org for details). Finally, the VHS is pleased to host a quilting workshop on Saturday, June 17 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. when Paula Golden will conduct a hands-on class, "Mastering the Mariner's Compass" design. Reservations are necessary, and the cost of the class is $30 plus a supply list. Please visit our web site or call 804.358.4901 for more details or to reserve your spot in the class.
The Virginia Historical Society is located at 428 N. Boulevard. The Story of Virginia, An American Experience,
a 10,000-square-foot exhibition with more than a thousand objects covering all of Virginia history from prehistoric
times to the present is featured in the Robins Center for Virginia History. Hours: Monday-Saturday 10am - 5pm
and Sunday 1pm - 5pm (Museum Galleries only). Admission: $5/adults, $4/seniors 55+ ($2/Tuesdays–galleries
only), $3/children and students, free/members. Admission to the galleries is free on Sundays. For group tour
information, call (804) 342-9652. For more information, please call (804) 358-4901 or visit
www.vahistorical.org.
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