|
|
Crews presents Nebraska Lecture April 17
Pat Crews
The free public lecture, "Quilts: Reflections of Trade, Technology and Tradition," will be at 3:30 p.m. in the Nebraska Union auditorium with a reception following. The presentation is part of The Nebraska Lectures: Chancellor's Distinguished Lecture Series. Crews will discuss how quilts reveal their makers' geographic, ethnic, religious and political affiliations, as well as their access to materials and technology. Regional variations in patterns, fabric and threading reveal a great deal about how the makers lived, she said. "Most women left few records prior to the 20th century. The objects they made are some of the best documents from which to glean insights about their lives," said Crews, Willa Cather professor of textiles, clothing and design and director of UNL's International Quilt Studies Center & Museum. Throughout her academic career, Crews has combined her interests in the science and history of textiles. Her research on how natural dyes fade led to development of amber-tinted UV light filters to better preserve museum exhibits. Crews' research also contributed to industry guidelines for UV-protective clothing. Her scholarship in textile history has focused on American quilts. She has written numerous publications and books on the history, conservation and performance of textiles, including Nebraska Quilts and Quiltmakers, which won the Smithsonian's Frost Prize for Distinguished Scholarship in American Crafts in 1993, and Wild by Design: Two Hundred Years of Innovation and Artistry in American Quilts, which was named the best book in the field by the Textiles Society of America in 2004. Crews joined the UNL faculty in 1984 and became a full professor in 1996. A year later, she became founding director of the quilt studies center. With a collection of more than 2,300 quilts, the center holds the world’s largest public collection of antique and contemporary quilts. The Nebraska Lectures, which feature distinguished UNL faculty, are designed for general audiences and provide insights about some of the university's leading research, scholarly and creative activity. Lectures are sponsored by the Office of the Chancellor, the UNL Research Council and the Office of Research.    | |
|
© 2008 University of Nebraska–Lincoln Office of Research | Click here to Subscribe/Unsubscribe
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is an equal opportunity educator and employer with a comprehensive plan for diversity. |
|