Fawn Valentine
Quiltmaker ::Instructor ::
Author
Monroe County, West Virginia.
Phone: 304/466-3996 E-mail: fawn@cwv.net
Biographical Information
Fawn Valentine's goal is for quilt history to be recognized as an academic
subject and given the same respect as American architecture, painting, and
furniture. She teaches college courses in quilt history for
Mountain State University's School of Extended and Distance Learning
(Beckley, WV) 1-800-766-6067 extension 1530. The courses are ART 281 History of Quiltmaking in
Appalachia and ART 282 American Quilt History. These are basically
correspondence courses: when the student enrolls, she receives a set of
objective examinations to be completed at home, open-book. The textbook for ART 281 is West Virginia Quilts and
Quiltmakers (this course also requires two essays in addition to the
exams); the textbook for ART 282 is Clues in the Calico by Barbara
Brackman. For registration information, contact the Dean of the School of Extended and Distance
Learning, at 1-800-766-6067 extension 1530.
Professional Affiliations
History Related Lectures and Workshops
“How
to Make a West Virginia Quilt”
A slide lecture on the history of quilts from West Virginia. This presentation brings to life the stories reflected in the stitching, the
peculiarities of the materials used, and the life behind this antique craft.
Cultural and economic factors including access to fabrics, design models, and sewing techniques have influenced the art of quilt making since the 18th century.
These influences provide illuminating details about the circumstances and lifestyles of those who made them.
Scotch-Irish Quilts in West Virginia
The history of emigration from Lowland Scotland to the Ulster Plantation to
colonial America is embodied in quilts stitched by descendants of Appalachian
Scotch-Irish pioneers. Demonstrating religious precepts and clan family
structure in their quilt construction, they created a distinctive style of
quilts previously unrecognized.
American Quilt History
Through the centuries American quiltmaking illustrates women's
responsibility to family and community. This presentation focuses the lens of
material culture to identify American quilts with regard to physical
components, cultural influences, and philosophical interpretation.
E~Mail fawn@cwv.net