Do you own a special quilt that tells a family or community story? A quilt that uses an unusual pattern or motif? Or even just a quilt that has been passed down through the generations of your family?
If so, the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society is interested in talking to you.
“We are currently looking for more quilts to be shared for a fall exhibit at the re-opened Male Academy Museum,” said Jeff Bishop, NCHS executive director. “If you have a quilt you would be willing to loan to us or donate, please contact us at 770-251-0207, or email our staff at jessie@newnancowetahistoricalsociety.com.”
The Male Academy will re-open on Labor Day Weekend beginning Saturday, Sept. 5.
NCHS is also looking for folk art from the early days of the Powers Crossroads country fair and art festival for a special Labor Day Weekend display.
“We have three paintings by Tom Powers, and some other items we are going to display especially for the Male Academy re-opening,” said Bishop. “But we’re on the lookout for more.”
NCHS is actively seeking loans of art from the festival’s early days to include as part of the event. Pottery, metal craft, sculpture, painting, fabric craft, glass, woodwork, etching, and other crafts bought or produced at the Powers Crossroads festival, especially items from the festival’s early days, are sought.
As part of the quilt exhibit, the city of Newnan’s “Sesquicentennial Quilt” will be displayed for the first time in years. Other quilts will also be on display, including a quilt made by Coral Moses Hand, whose father founded the Male Academy school for boys in the 1800s.
“We found an oral history she did from the 1970s that really shines a light on her life and work,” said Bishop.
New exhibit panels are being developed for the new exhibit, and the museum has been repaired and reworked.
“If you come to the Male Academy you’ll see things that haven’t been displayed for a couple of years now, and some that haven’t been displayed in quite some time, if ever,” Bishop said.
The NCHS is also prepping its first ever Quilt Expo this October. Applications should be sent by Sept. 1 with photos and descriptions of the quilts. Quilts must be received by Oct. 1 for the event, slated for Oct. 8-10. NCHS is seeking volunteers to help put up and take down the expo and to be “white gloved attendants.” Anyone interested in lecturing, demonstrating, or holding a class should also contact NCHS.
“We might be able to turn this into an annual fall event,” said Bishop.
10 x 10 and 10 x 20 booths will be available at the Historic Train Depot. Deposits of $50 are required to reserve the space.
The McRitchie-Hollis Museum, located at 74 Jackson St., is also open, showing the new “Golden Era of Hollywood” exhibit, featuring hand-painted movie posters from the Loew’s Grand theater in Atlanta from the 20s, 30s, and 40s. Both the McRitchie-Hollis Museum and the Male Academy Museum will be open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 10-12 and from 1-3. Admission is $5/$2.
