The Fabric of History at Bowne House & Beyond
Exhibit Description:
In celebration of Black History Month, Bowne House is hosting a special exhibit titled “The Fabric of History in Flushing & Beyond.” Visitors will learn about the historical significance of needlework from the perspective of black history and women’s history, while viewing a variety of hand-sewn artwork dating from the 19th century through today. Pieces will be exhibited in the historic rooms of Bowne House (built c. 1661).
On display will be pieces by fiber artists and members of the Brooklyn Quilters Guild, Thadine Wormly and Jacqueline Colson. (See their artist statements below.) Amongst their work will be quilts featuring notable abolitionists, history, and historic sites. Also on view will be rare pieces from the Bowne House Collection, including a recently conserved 19th-century sampler and a 19th-century black doll.
Exhibit Dates:
The exhibit will be on view during select dates between February 21st 2026 and March 15th 2026 (listed below). During open museum hours, visitors can take guided tours without registering in advance. Tours begin at the top of the hour.
Saturday, February 21st, 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Wednesday, February 25th, 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Friday, February 27th, 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Wednesday, March 4th, 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Sunday, March 8th, 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Wednesday, March 11th, 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Sunday, March 15th, 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Admission:
(Purchased upon entry to the museum. No pre-registration is required.)
$10 General
$8 per Student
$5 per Youth under 14 years old
Free for Members 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.