The Museum Center announces a lobby exhibition of quilts created by local quilters Phyllis Callaway and Margaret McLaughlin to be on view in the museum lobby Feb. 22-26.
Callaway took her first quilting class 25 years ago, but never finished the quilt she started in class. Years later in 2006, she returned to quilting when she volunteered to help hang quilts for the Museum Center’s Stitches-in-Time exhibition and became inspired. Her love for color is evident in brightly patterned creations, many of which are inspired by internationally renowned textile artist Kaffe Fassett. Callaway is also passionate about piecing and applying her math and geometry skills to create her quilts.
McLaughlin has a 60-year history with a needle and thread. She began sewing at the age of 4 or 5 and learned by watching her mother. She vowed that when she retired she would take up quilting, and she did just that about 12 years ago. Quilting is her outlet for creativity, and she especially loves to appliqué. Most of her quilts are made entirely by hand and can take many months to complete. She says the she aspires to pass on the craft to others, and has taught a number of appliqué and quilting classes where she inspires others.
Both Callaway and McLaughlin have supported the Stitches-in-Time exhibit through the years by volunteering their time to help with the show. Both serve on the organizing committee that helps select judges and plan quilt classes. Callaway often lends her creative eye to help hang quilts, and McLaughlin has devoted a number of weekends to teaching classes at the museum. This year Callaway was instrumental in the concept, design, and creation of the Museum’s Opportunity Quilt. McLaughlin also assisted with the quilt with her beautiful hand quilting.
The Museum Center at Five Points preserves and interprets the history and culture of the Ocoee District of Southeast Tennessee. The museum hosts exhibits and education programs. For more information, call 339-5745 or visit www.museumcenter.org.
