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Keynote Presentation: Kathleen Curtis Wilson Monday July 18th 2022 - 7 PM to 9 PM Tickets: $73 or Free with CVP, includes dinner, cash bar available After 25 years documenting the hand woven textiles in Southern Appalachia, Kathleen Curtis Wilson has a treasure trove of photographs and stories to share, including photographs of a rare bed rug, a woven quilt made by two enslaved women in Tennessee, and a suit of clothing made of fabric woven c. 1820 in North Carolina. She will share the fascinating story of two Appalachian women who wove the furnishings for the Lincoln bedroom in the Woodrow Wilson White House and show a few images of the crafts made during the earliest years of the settlement school movement. With every piece of cloth, the history of the region is revealed. Kathleen will present a visual tour of the talent and diversity of the strong, resilient men and women who settled in Southern Appalachia.

From Enslavement to Entrepreneurship in Appalachian Virginia. Beautiful and sassy, Alice Bolden was used to getting her own way. One hot summer day in 1932, she sashayed out of her family’s home in the black community of West Warm Springs, Virginia, wearing shorts. Her mother, Elizabeth Morris Bolden, looked up from her gardening. Mother and daughter locked eyes.

On May 27, 2021, from 1:00 - 3:00pm 4 W. Main St. (2nd floor, enter under yellow awning) For the past 35 years, Kathleen Curtis Wilson has documented, written, studied, and lectured on textile traditions in southern Appalachia. Particularly, Wilson has revived the narrative regarding coverlets, the beautifully intricate fiber works, and the women who wove them. Join us to explore these common, yet mysterious pieces that abound with heart. For more information and to make reservations call (540)382-5644 or email: collections@montgomerymuseum.org Attendance to the event is free. Have your own family coverlets reviewed by Ms. Wilson for $20. Reservation Required for personal review.
I love meeting other textile lovers, and getting to travel for new research opportunities is one of my favorite things about my career.
If you’re an event organizer and would be interested in inviting me to speak at your festival or conference, please email me the date and place of the event.