A never-before-displayed exhibition of 170-year-old quilts from the Hartsford Family Collection will open at the Columbia Gorge Museum on June 2, according to a press release.
With quilts from the Hartsfield Family Collection: Miss Molly’s Voice: Freedom and Family Spoken in Fabric, this show features Miss Molly Barnes, the family’s ancestor who was an enslaved woman. Miss Molly was smart, creative, and used her quilting talents to document her life, communicate with her community, the Underground Railroad, and express unwavering love and commitment towards her family.
All are invited to experience this impactful exhibition between June 2 at 10 a.m. and July 31 at 5 p.m.
Her messages were understood by those who could not receive them in any other way. Miss Molly quilted her story and passed her skills and quilts to subsequent generations to document her life, time, and place. For over 170 years, these quilts were protected by her family… and her third great-grandson, Jim Tharpe, is ready to share her story.
As the stories of these quilts continue to spread, Miss Molly’s voice is now being heard around the nation and bringing a unique perspective to one of the darkest times in American history.
This exhibition will be more than an opportunity to view historical quilt design. It’s an opportunity to feel a glimpse of that love Miss Molly had for her family along with the tragedies and hardships experienced during that time.
The Columbia Gorge Museum is also offering a private opening for members of the museum on June 1st from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Our special guest, Jim Tharpe, will also be in attendance. Become a member to attend.
In accordance with the exhibition, the museum also announced its Juneteenth Celebration! This event will focus on creating quilt patterns in a dialogue with the patterns and skill of Miss Molly Barnes. Take a guided experience through the quilt exhibition, thanks to some amazing Columbia Gorge quilters, and create your own family document in a quilt square.
This event takes place June 19 between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. and is open to everyone.
The Columbia Gorge Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in Stevenson, WA. It is known for collections honoring the tribal communities from the region, past and present, the largest rosary collection, and as art and artifacts from industry and families throughout the region's history.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Every First Saturday of the month is free for Skamania County residents.
The museum is located at 990 SW Rock Creek Drive, Stevenson.
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