Feature Exhibit
Come take a stroll through the world where differences are cherished and kindness flourishes; a world we’d all like to live in; a world envisioned and created by artists and friends Maxine Hess and Jeanne Hewell-Chambers. The exhibition, “Imagine a World” will be on view at the Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum in Carrollton, GA, September 25, 2024 to December 20, 2024.
Maxine Hess is known for creating fabric collages and related videos, a combination that seeks to create conversation and understanding around themes of injustice and marginalized communities. Jeanne Hewell-Chambers’ art combines storytelling, stitching, and more to expose viewers to under-told stories, including disregarded people who looked, sounded, or seemed different. Both artists are known for creating works which promote change by opening doors for discussion, understanding, and education.
“Imagine a World” will include “The Forest” Gallery inspired by Jeanne's sister-in-law, Nancy. Despite a traumatic brain injury Nancy suffered as a child, she was still able to draw images to share her joy with the world. Jeanne used Nancy’s drawings as inspiration to create textiles. “The Forest” will include Nancy’s story along with forest textile art and crocheted trees. Nancy’s birds will be central focal points throughout the gallery.
The “Be Kind” Gallery will include quilts from the “Be Kind Project” and the “70273 Project”. A friendship with Minni Warnke Scott, a Research Analyst at the Nuremberg Doctor Trials, led Maxine to begin what became the “Be Kind Project”. A World War II documentary that mentioned Aktion T4, a Nazi program created specifically to eliminate disabled children and adults, led Jeanne to begin “The 70273 Project”. She decided to commemorate each one of the 70,273 victims with a quilt block – a block made of white fabric representing the medical form and two red X’s symbolizing the sentence that committed all those innocent people to death. Through her efforts the project has collected more than enough blocks to represent the known victims.
The exhibit will include related videos and interactive elements to complement the exhibit. They are designed to promote reflection and conversation. Visitors can participate by adding notes of kindness, and making “be kind” birds to add to the exhibit.
Upcoming Exhibits
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In January of 2025, we will feature the Art Cloth Network’s traveling exhibit “Unfolding.” This exhibit encourages artists to think about “what is revealed when a story is told…do terms such as evolving, growing, revealing come to mind?” Artists interpreted the theme in a wide variety of ways, drawing inspiration from life, nature, world issues, and more.
These three dimensional textile works will use a variety of interpretations to reveal a story, similar to unwrapping a gift. It features 26 works by 23 artists allowing for various interpretations to inspire guests.
January 7- April 12 of 2025
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This exhibit will explore star pattern quilts of various forms, highlighting some incredible pieces from the Museum's permanent collection.
January 7- April 12 of 2025
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Korhogo cloth is an West African textile made by hand painting designs on hand woven and hand spun cotton fabric. The paintings are done using a specially fermented mud-based and natural vegetal pigment that darkens over time. They are decorated with symbols of humans, natural elements like the sun, moon and stars and animals. The Senufo use the cloth as a shield against vengeful spirits. Women spin the cotton into yarn and prepare the dye while men weave and decorate the cloth.
Beth Ann St. George is a Folk Artist, who uses Korhogo cloth as central pieces of her modern textile art. While she is fascinated with the stories of Korhogo, she does not alter the Korhogo beyond the quilted stitching and an occasional button or bead. The ragged edges are left visible. She uses these pieces to educate people about the meanings of the symbols of the Korhogo cloth.
April 15 - July 12, 2025
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As a quilter and photographer, Myrtie Cope has found ways to incorporate photography into quilting and embroidery.
The embroidery adds texture and interest to landscapes and nature photos and, on some photos, creates an abstract image. The stitches create focus on different areas of the photos; colors are added which are not in the original photo but can be imagined.
April 15 - July 12, 2025
Upcoming Events and Classes
The mission of the Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum is to promote and preserve the history of quilting and textiles in the southeastern U.S. through visual exhibitions and engaging educational opportunities that will inspire and carry on the cherished traditions of our textile heritage.