New One-Day Quilt Forum to Explore 18th- and 19th-Century Quilts 

"Exquisite Selections" Program at Historic Deerfield Sat.,  May 14

Quilters, needleworkers, and textile aficionados alike will converge on Historic Deerfield Saturday, May 14, for a one-day forum titled " 'Exquisite Selections': An Exploration of 18^th- and 19^th-Century Quilts at Historic Deerfield."  The program, featuring Linda Eaton, Director of Collections and Senior Curator of Textiles at the Winterthur Museum, along with Historic Deerfield staff, will explore the creation, history, interpretation and care of whole cloth and pieced quilts.

"This promises to be an insightful look into a decorative, practical and symbolic form of needlework," said Amanda Lange, Curatorial Chair and Curator of Historic Interiors at Historic Deerfield.  "Attendees will gain access to rare examples from Historic Deerfield's own outstanding collection, and have the opportunity to view quilts in the historic setting of the Wells-Thorn House."

Eaton will present the opening lecture titled "Quilts in a Material World." Before joining the Winterthur Museum, she developed an extensive background  in conservation, having trained in the postgraduate program at the Textile Conservation Centre in conjunction with the Courtauld Institute of Art in London.  At Winterthur she curated the exhibitions Deceit, Deception & Discovery, This Work in Hand: Philadelphia Needlework from the 18^th Century, and Needles & Haystacks: Pastoral Imagery in American Needlework, and has co-curated Who's Your Daddy? Families in Early American Needlework and Betsy Ross: The Life Behind the Legend.  Eaton will also sign copies of her recent book, Quilts in a Material World: Selections from the Winterthur Collection, published in 2007 in conjunction with the first exhibition of Winterthur's collection of quilts.

The day will also include a lecture by Ned Lazaro, Collections Manager at Historic Deerfield, titled "An Introduction to the Historic Deerfield Quilt Collection."  After lunch, attendees will be organized into three groups to take advantage of concurrent sessions including "Quilt Care and Conservation" by Linda Eaton, guided tours of the Helen Geier Flynt Textile Gallery, and tours of the quilts on display in the Wells-Thorn House.  Morning lectures will take place in Historic Deerfield's White Church Community Center, with afternoon events happening in the Wells-Thorn House and the Flynt Center of Early New England Life. 

Registration for the day-long event is $105 per person ($95 for members), and includes all lectures and tours as well as lunch and light refreshments at the end of the day.  For information and registration, please contact Julie Orvis Marcinkiewicz at 413-775-7179 or events@historic-deerfield.org. 

Please note that due to the fact that the Deerfield Inn is already full on May 14, a special lodging rate is available with the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Brattleboro, VT.  A list of local hotels and bed and breakfasts is available upon request.