Join us for an Artist Talk celebrating the launch of a special exhibit titled “The Fabric of History in Flushing and Beyond”
When: Sunday, February 15th from 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Where: Bowne House at 37-01 Bowne Street, Flushing, NY 11354
What to Expect: Fiber Artists Thadine Wormly and Jacqueline Colson will speak about their pieces on display, while providing insight into the artistic process and the rich historical context of their subjects. A question and answer period will follow. (Please see their artist statements below.)
Photograph of an original work by Thadine Wormly. Fiber art. All credits: Thadine Wormly.
Photograph of an original work by Jacqueline Colson. Fiber art. All credits: Jacqueline Colson.
Attendees will also be able to take self-guided tours of Bowne House and view rare pieces from the Bowne House Collection, including a recently conserved 19th-century sampler and a 19th-century black doll. Refreshments will be served.
Admission: Tickets are required for entry and can be purchased via Eventbrite. Space is Limited.
$10 General
$8 per Student
$5 per Youth 14 and under
$5 per Member of Bowne House Historical Society
Artist Statements:
Thadine Wormly:
Through my eyes I envision an image from simple to abstract that I love enough to create. As a painter utilizes canvas, paint and brush, I use cloth, thread, needle and scissor to create quilts, wearable items, fabric postcards and dolls.
Quilting and dollmaking via hand-sewing provides a therapeutic and relaxing diagnosis for mind, body and spirit. It brings an inner peace from start to finish for the textile created. I’ve unknowingly committed decades, from my childhood through this season, loving cloth, thread and yarn manipulation.
Thadine Wormly has been a resident of Flushing Queens for over 50 years and is a mother of four. Her work has been exhibited at the Mid-Hudson Slavery Project; Bowne House; the Annual Quilt for Cops Quilting Bee; Soul Basel at Art Basel; St. John’s University; and Westbeth Art Gallery. Ms. Wormly was also featured in the New Yorker Magazine and the Hudson Valley Press. She is a board member of the Olde Towne Flushing Burial Ground Conservancy.
Jacqueline Colson:
Quilting is more than a craft; it’s a powerful narrative of our ancestors. Each scrap of fabric weaves together stories of strength, resilience and perseverance. From vibrant colors to muted tones, these quilts mirror the complexities of our history, capturing moments of joy and pain with patience and reverence. The practice and art of quilting allows me to shape seemingly random scraps of cloth into functional works of expression. My quilts are not always warm and cuddly. They are multi-layered textiles and hand embroidered to depict history or black historical figures. Each stitch is a testament to the lives lived, the struggles endured, and the legacies passed down through generations. My quilts are a tribute to those who came before us, a tangible connection to our past that speaks volumes to those who hold it close.