The Franklin G. Burroughs – Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum in Myrtle Beach, SC will present a weekly lecture series titled "Stitching Stories: Conversations on Quilts, Community, and the Artists of Gee's Bend" from June – August 2010 in conjunction with the tenure of two exciting exhibits, A Survey of the Quilts of Gee's Bend and Linda Day Clark: The Photographs of Gee's Bend. The lecture series will include a variety of topics and formats, from theater to food to music. SC Humanities supported the Stitching Stories lecture series through a Major Grant in February 2010.
Gee's Bend is a tenant community in Alabama that was largely populated by freed slaves after the Civil War. Women from the Gee's Bend community developed a unique quilting aesthetic that has been passed down through six generations and has been described as "distinctive, bold, and sophisticated . . . based on traditional American (and African American) quilts but with a geometric simplicity reminiscent of Amish quilts and modern art." (http://www.quiltsofgeesbend.com/history/).
The "Stitching Stories: Conversations on Quilts, Community, and the Artists of Gee's Bend" lecture series includes the following programs:
Wednesday, June 9, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Stitching Stories: A Conversation with Gee's Bend Quilters
"A discussion with four Gee's Bend quilters facilitated by Matt Arnett, director of exhibitions for Tinwood Alliance; Gee's Bend quilters will also take the first stitches for a 'community quilting bee' in a quilt created by local women from the Burgess Community Center to be quilted by visitors during the exhibition."
Sponsored by the Franklin G. Burroughs – Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum
3100 South Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
No charge but reservations are required
Info or reservations: 843-238-2510
http://www.myrtlebeachartmuseum.org/
Wednesday, June 16, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Stitching Stories: Brookgreen People
"Premier of a one-woman play written and performed by Veronica Davis Gerald, Coastal Carolina University faculty member, taken from WPA oral histories collected by Genevieve W. Chandler during the Depression from Gullah people on the Waccamaw Neck."
Sponsored by the Franklin G. Burroughs – Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum
3100 South Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
No charge but reservations are required
Info or reservations: 843-238-2510
http://www.myrtlebeachartmuseum.org/
Wednesday, June 23, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Stitching Stories: Food for the Soul, A Conversation with Johanna Wilson
"The features and food writer at The Sun News leads a rollicking, mouth-watering discussion on the culinary influences of African American culture on food."
Sponsored by the Franklin G. Burroughs – Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum
3100 South Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
No charge but reservations are required
Info or reservations: 843-238-2510
http://www.myrtlebeachartmuseum.org/
Wednesday, June 30, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Stitching Stories: A Conversation and Exhibition Tour with Linda Day Clark
"Photographer Linda Day Clark, featured in the companion exhibition Linda Day Clark: The Photographs of Gee's Bend will lead a guided tour of the exhibit."
Sponsored by the Franklin G. Burroughs – Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum
3100 South Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
No charge but reservations are required
Info or reservations: 843-238-2510
http://www.myrtlebeachartmuseum.org/
Wednesday, July 7, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Stitching Stories: Scholar's Forum
"African Influences in Gee's Bend Quilts will be presented by Dr. Corrie Claiborne of Claflin University in Orangeburg, and African Drumming Performance and Workshop will be presented by Foude Moussa Camara, distinguished West African percussionist."
Sponsored by the Franklin G. Burroughs – Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum
3100 South Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
No charge but reservations are required
Info or reservations: 843-238-2510
http://www.myrtlebeachartmuseum.org/
Wednesday, July 14, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Stitching Stories: The Quilts of Gee's Bend, A Conversation with Filmmaker Matt Arnett
"Film screening with discussion to follow"
Sponsored by the Franklin G. Burroughs – Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum
3100 South Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
No charge but reservations are required
Info or reservations: 843-238-2510
http://www.myrtlebeachartmuseum.org/
Wednesday, July 21, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Stitching Stories: Leaving Gee's Bend, A Conversation with Children's Author Irene Latham
"A discussion and booksigning with the Alabama author of this recently published young people's book for middle school readers."
Sponsored by the Franklin G. Burroughs – Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum
3100 South Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
No charge but reservations are required
Info or reservations: 843-238-2510
http://www.myrtlebeachartmuseum.org/
Wednesday, July 28, 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Stitching Stories: Fabric Finery, Creating Gullah Dolls with Zenobia Washington
"A workshop with renowned Georgetown doll maker; at the end of the session participants will leave with an original doll of their own creation with fabrics provided by the artist. Limited to 30 students."
Sponsored by the Franklin G. Burroughs – Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum
3100 South Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
$10 supply charge; reservations required
Info or reservations: 843-238-2510
http://www.myrtlebeachartmuseum.org/
Wednesday, August 4, 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Stitching Stories, From Fields of Promise, A Conversation with Filmmakers Bruce Kuerten and John Dijulio
"Discussion of film about 20th century history of Gee's Bend with Auburn University filmmakers. Film Preview from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m."
Sponsored by the Franklin G. Burroughs – Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum
3100 South Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
No charge but reservations are required
Info or reservations: 843-238-2510
http://www.myrtlebeachartmuseum.org/
Wednesday, August 11, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Stitching Stories: Gee's Bend, A Readers' Theater Presentation
"Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder's three-act play presented as a reading by local actor and Coastal Carolina University Professor Veronica Davis Gerald and three others."
Sponsored by the Franklin G. Burroughs – Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum
3100 South Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
No charge but reservations are required
Info or reservations: 843-238-2510
http://www.myrtlebeachartmuseum.org/
Wednesday, August 18, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Stitching Stories: From a Gullah Slave Cabin to the White House
"The Michelle Obama quilt created by The Quilting Circle from the Committee of African American History Observances, Georgetown, displayed during the 2009 inaugural events at the Historical Society of Washington, DC; presentation by quilter and Gullah lorist Vermelle Rodrigues."
Sponsored by the Franklin G. Burroughs – Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum
3100 South Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
No charge but reservations are required
Info or reservations: 843-238-2510
http://www.myrtlebeachartmuseum.org/
Wednesday, August 25, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Stitching Stories: Scholar's Forum, Culminating Event for Stitching Stories
"Discussion with Dr. Corrie Claiborne and Singer Ann Caldwell and praise house music."
Sponsored by the Franklin G. Burroughs – Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum
3100 South Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
No charge but reservations are required
Info or reservations: 843-238-2510
http://www.myrtlebeachartmuseum.org/
All of the programs take place at the Franklin G. Burroughs – Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum at 3100 South Ocean Blvd, Myrtle Beach, 29577 in the Reception Room. More information can be found at the museum website: www.myrtlebeachartmuseum.org or by calling 843-238-2510.
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. SC Humanities programs and initiatives are balanced, reflecting sensitivity to the diversity of ideas, encourage open dialogue, demonstrate integrity, and are ethical in operations.
Image: Mary Lee Bendolph, Born 1935, "Strips," 2003, 71"x82"
