The Quiet Work of Women
Textile Art from Southern Appalachia
Available at Overmountain Press
325 W Walnut St
Johnson City, TN 37604
The Quiet Work of Women
Textile Art from Southern Appalachia
The images in this book feature 44 woven bed coverlets and 2 quilts. As a collection, these textiles trace the important role weaving played in Appalachian culture. They are part of a rich decorative arts tradition that developed and flourished during the 19th and into the 20th century.
Wilson spent over three decades creating a large archive of textiles, along with stories of the makers, gathered during personal interviews in homes, libraries, and basements across southern Appalachia.
The textiles featured in this book were originally part of an international exhibition called The Quiet Work of Women curated by Wilson, 2001-2003.
Wilson is a guest speaker for a new exhibit at the Asheville Art Museum, Warp, Weft, and the Grid, featuring similar coverlets.
The exhibit runs from July 2026 to January 2027.
The Quiet Work of Women
will be available at the museum shop.
Photographs from the Book - Textile Art
“Kathleen Curtis Wilson is the foremost authority on textiles of the Appalachian region, Irish linen, and craft work of numerous other cultures. She is an exceptional speaker, engaging writer, knowledgeable appraiser, and sensitive curator of exhibitions. Most importantly, she enthusiastically and generously shares her understanding and love of textiles with others."
Dr. Jean Haskell
Appalachian Highlands Consulting
Professor, Appalachian Studies, Virginia Tech & East Tennessee State University (retired)
Co-editor, Encyclopedia of Appalachia
