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June 19, 2012

Explore Contributions of Diverse Women through the Centuries During Colonial Williamsburg’s Revolutionary City, Museum Programs

This summer, the new program at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg illustrates how quilts tell stories about families. The program is offered at the Hennage Auditorium of the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, 326 W. Francis St., Williamsburg.

“Every Piece Tells a Story” examines two women from different generations and ethnic backgrounds to connect through a quilt. A black woman from the 1960s and a white woman from the turn of the 20th century reflect on the importance of quilts in their lives and how quilt making not only kept their family warm but brought the women a sense of pride and preserving precious memories. This program is offered at 5 p.m. on Wednesdays, June 20, July 11, July 25, Aug. 1, Aug. 8 and Aug. 15. Tickets are $3, in addition to a Revolutionary City or museums ticket. This program is presented in conjunction with the exhibition, “Quilts in the Baltimore Manner,” at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum.

Popular programs returning to the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum and the Historic Area include:

“The Women Who Influenced Martha Washington” explores the women who helped turn Martha Washington into George Washington’s worthy partner in this multi-media and live performance. This hour-long program is offered at 2:15 p.m. Mondays through Aug. 27 at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum. Tickets are included in all Revolutionary City or museum admission passes.

“Talk of the Town” offers guests the opportunity to meet some of the women who made their home in the capital city of Williamsburg in the 18th century. Learn of their joys and sorrows, triumphs and tears as they experienced a time filled with challenges, change and uncertainty. This program will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesdays through Aug. 29 at the Greenhow Store Office in Colonial Williamsburg’s Revolutionary City. Tickets are included in all Revolutionary City admission passes.

“Revolutionary Women” explores three strong women who lived through the American Revolution – a camp follower, a spy and a soldier at 5 p.m. on June 23 at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum. Admission is $3, in addition to a Revolutionary City or museums ticket.

“To Be Seen as an American” introduces three black women who didn’t accept society’s limits on what they could accomplish. Lydia rose from slave to entrepreneur, Katie Marie was educated but not given the resources to teach others, and Clara Byrd Baker fought for equal rights in the 20th century. These Williamsburg women’s work spanned three centuries, opening doors and providing new opportunities for the next generation to build on. This program will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Thursdays, June 28, July 5 and 26, Aug. 2 and 16 at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum. Tickets are included in all Revolutionary City or museum admission passes.

For more information, call 1-800-HISTORY or visit www.history.org.

The L. Kay Wilkinson Endowment for Women’s Studies helps underwrite Colonial Williamsburg programs illustrating the lives of 18th-century women.

The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg include the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum and the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum. The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum is home to the nation’s premier collection of American folk art, with more than 5,000 folk art objects made during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. The DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum exhibits the best in British and American decorative arts from 1670-1830.

The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg are located at the intersection of Francis and South Henry Streets in Williamsburg Va., and are entered through the Public Hospital of 1773. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. through 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. For museum program information, telephone (757) 220-7724.

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is the not-for-profit educational and cultural organization dedicated to the preservation, interpretation and presentation of the restored 18th-century Revolutionary capital of Virginia. This town-sized living history museum tells the inspirational stories of our journey to become Americans through programs in the Historic Area and through the award-winning Revolutionary City program. Explore The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg and discover the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum featuring the best in British and American decorative arts from 1670 – 1830 and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum home to the nation’s premier collection of American folk art, comprising more than 5,000 folk art objects made during the 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Colonial Williamsburg Hotels feature conference spaces and recreation activities from spa and fine dining to world-class golf. Colonial Williamsburg is committed to expanding its thought-provoking programming through education outreach on-site and online. Purchase of Colonial Williamsburg products and services supports the preservation, research and educational programs of the Foundation. Philanthropic support by individuals, corporations, and foundations benefits the educational mission of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Williamsburg is located in Virginia’s Tidewater region, 20 minutes from Newport News, within an hour’s drive of Richmond and Norfolk, and 150 miles south of Washington, D.C. For more information about Colonial Williamsburg, call 1-800-HISTORY or visit Colonial Williamsburg’s website at www.history.org.

Media Contact:
Penna Rogers
(757) 220-7121

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