January 19 - March 24, 2012
CAMPAIGNS & COMMEMORATIVES:
Quilts for Presidents
Eisenhower Handkerchief Quilt (detail)
_The “silly season” of national campaigning is upon us. Join us for an exhibit highlighting the unique role that textiles have played in our national politics.
Until women in the United States won the right to vote in the 20th century, their political influence was expressed through their male family members, or through letter writing, peripheral political involvement or needlework. Campaigns have used textiles to promote their candidates since the early 19th century. Put these two factors together and something novel happens: either quilts are created from campaign textiles or patterns are altered to honor a president or a political party.
Campaigns and Commemoratives highlights four centuries of political textiles used in quilts to support the campaigns of everyone from President Washington to President Obama. Included are Washington’s Plume, medallion quilts showcasing presidential handkerchiefs, donkeys, elephants and even some political satire. Enjoy this fascinating look at everything that is both serious and fun about our national political game.
Exhibit sponsored in part by the Demoulas Foundation.
Until women in the United States won the right to vote in the 20th century, their political influence was expressed through their male family members, or through letter writing, peripheral political involvement or needlework. Campaigns have used textiles to promote their candidates since the early 19th century. Put these two factors together and something novel happens: either quilts are created from campaign textiles or patterns are altered to honor a president or a political party.
Campaigns and Commemoratives highlights four centuries of political textiles used in quilts to support the campaigns of everyone from President Washington to President Obama. Included are Washington’s Plume, medallion quilts showcasing presidential handkerchiefs, donkeys, elephants and even some political satire. Enjoy this fascinating look at everything that is both serious and fun about our national political game.
Exhibit sponsored in part by the Demoulas Foundation.
Saturday, March 10: 1PM
COLLECTING POLITICAL MEMORABILIA: HOBBY OR OBSESSION?
Alan Hartnett, Danvers businessman and collector of all things political, will speak at the New England Quilt Museum on Saturday, March 10 at 1PM.
Bringing many items from his personal collection, Hartnett will share stories about them and about his passion for collecting. The owner of numerous pieces of textile memorabilia, Hartnett will put the quilts in our current exhibition into the larger context of political object collecting.
Hartnett is a member of APIC -- American Political Items Collectors, one of the oldest hobby collecting organizations in the country.
Come enjoy this fascinating look at the adventures of the obsessive collector! You might find yourself wondering "Whatever happened to that 'I LIKE IKE' campaign button?"
Bringing many items from his personal collection, Hartnett will share stories about them and about his passion for collecting. The owner of numerous pieces of textile memorabilia, Hartnett will put the quilts in our current exhibition into the larger context of political object collecting.
Hartnett is a member of APIC -- American Political Items Collectors, one of the oldest hobby collecting organizations in the country.
Come enjoy this fascinating look at the adventures of the obsessive collector! You might find yourself wondering "Whatever happened to that 'I LIKE IKE' campaign button?"