The Shadow
From now until March, the Historic Masonic Theatre is holding a quilt exhibit to celebrate the incredible collection of Kaye England. England —a master quilter, teacher, and fan of the arts— has been collecting and sewing together quilts for several years now.
I was given the opportunity to preview the exhibit prior to its opening last month, touring it with Justin Reiter, executive director of the Masonic Theatre, and Gayle Hillert, facilitator/curator of “The Road Home” exhibit by Kaye England. “This exhibit came about from Kaye England’s love of the theatre,” Reiter stated. “… she’s published books on it [quilting]-pattern design. [She’s an] educator, did online courses during COVID. She comes here each year to do a quilt retreat…”
As such, England is no stranger to our community, the Masonic Theatre, or to quilting. “Kaye has been collecting items of women in history for many many years and when she found these items, she would go and research these women, even going to their birthplace and really understand them. Then, in her creative mind’s eye, would create a quilt to go with that personality,” Justin Reiter said. “We have a couple of really special items,” he noted, leading me to an elaborate quilt hanging on the front-facing side of the room. Beneath it was a frame that housed a photograph and signed letter. “This is a letter that Helen Keller wrote and is signed by Helen Keller,” Reiter said. Gayle Hillert added, pointing to the bottom of the letter, “She used a ruler to sign her name. She would hold the ruler underneath so the letters would be straight. The quilt that Kaye made is dimensional because she [Keller] could not hear, she could not see, but she could touch.” The letter —as is the case for all the pieces in the exhibit— has been authenticated, according to Reiter.
“What’s really amazing is that the gambit of what these females represented is incredible because it’s everything from Martha Washington, the first lady —the first first lady— to Lucille Ball. So it goes through a gambit and it also touches on some difficult times in our history with Harriet Tubman…” Justin Reiter pointed out as we continued our stroll through the unique exhibit.
Both Reiter and Hillert also noted that, in addition to the many quilts that were created by Kaye England, there were also a number of quilts she collected throughout the years. England has chosen to donate these pieces to the Historic Masonic Theatre to be sold by auction in March. They include one-of-a-kind quilts she has beautifully sewn together, as well as quilts she has collected, some of which are over 100 years old and remain in immaculate condition. The quilts England has sewn to embody historic and influential women throughout history include Martha Washington, Grace Anna Coolidge, Harriet Tubman, Eleanor Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Amelia Earhart, Lucille Ball, and many others.
All proceeds of the upcoming auction will benefit the Historic Masonic Theatre and Ampitheatre. The Virginian Review will have more information on that auction when the time draws nearer but encourages the public to check in with the Masonic Theatre for upcoming dates/times to pop in and see “The Road Home” exhibit in the meantime.
With my tour drawing to its natural conclusion, Justin Reiter and Gayle Hillert encouraged me to walk around, take pictures, and take in the collection. So, I set down my purse, picked up my camera, and took off my reporter hat to breathe in the exhibit from that of a spectator. Having never made a quilt, I’m not sure I ever truly appreciated the art behind it. Until now. As I moved from the Harriet Tubman piece —which featured an actual slave paper— to Amelia Earhart and Helen Keller, I found myself suddenly overcome with emotion as I struggled to grasp the challenges these women endured in their lifetimes: war battles fought in the past to give today’s women the future of our choices. Would I recommend this breathtaking exhibit? A thousand times, yes.
