Ties That Bind: Quilts of Community
Posted By: Liz Goodrich
Date Posted: 3/13/2006
Deschutes Public Library is pleased to sponsor two Oregon Chautauqua programs by quilt historian Mary Bywater Cross entitled The Ties that Bind: Quilts of Community. The first program will be held at the LaPine Public Library on Saturday, March 18 at 3:00 p.m. The second program, sponsored by The Friends of the Redmond Library, will be held on Sunday, March 19 at 2:00 p.m. Both programs are free and open to the public.
Once delegated to the realm of quaint handicrafts, quilts are now recognized by historians as valuable visual social records of women’s contributions that were often overlooked in official histories and traditional documents. Beginning after the initial pioneer settlement in the 1870s and moving to the present, quilt historian and author Mary Bywater Cross will illustrate how women drew their communities together through quilting for one of four primary purposes: raising funds for programs and organizations; creating tributes to individuals who supported and guided a group or community; commemorating cultural, social, or economic events; and attending to the utilitarian necessities for warmth and social interaction.
Ms. Cross willillustrate her discussion with slides of contemporary and historic community-based quilts, using the maker’s documentation to help participants develop an awareness of the many roles that quilts play in communities. They are artifacts that connect the diverse geography, history, and culture of the Pacific Northwest.
Ms. Cross’s program is made possible by funding from the Oregon Council for the Humanities, and independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. OCH is dedicated to providing opportunities for life-long learning in communities throughout Oregon. For more information about OCH or Oregon Chautauqua, please contact Carol E. Hickman at (503) 241-0543. For information about this or other library programs, please call 312-1032.
Page Last Modified Wednesday, March 8, 2023