Story Quilts and the Underground Railroad
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The Story In The Quilt, a special exhibit and presentation, including musical interpretation will be offered by quilt-maker Corrine Cummins-Dietz and vocalist Jeanie Snyder. The first presentation will begin at 7 pm ,and the second presentation about other story quilts on display will start at around 7:30 pm. This First Friday Exhibit will be open September 2, 2011, from 5 until 8pm at the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Greeley, 929 15th St., Greeley, 80631, sponsored by Chalice Arts, a committee of the UU Church. Open also on Sunday Sept. 4, following church from 11:30 to12:30. This exhibit ends Sept. 5th.
The first presentation, featuring The Underground Quilt is based on the Underground Railroad.[1] Twelve quilt blocks containing the “ secret quilt codes” will be displayed to accompany the commentary. After the “secret code” of each quilt block is explained, a Spiritual with the same message will be sung. The “secret quilt codes” will take the listener from the “gather your tools” time to the “home in heaven” time.
The story of the Underground Railroad is also used as a vehicle to address some current social issues.
Ms. Dietz will talk briefly about story quilts and the piecing techniques used in the wall hangings in the second part of her presentation.
Corrine (Corki) Cummins-Dietz, the story teller, is a retired fifth grade teacher. She taught in a bilingual/bicultural classroom. She has always enjoyed telling stories and/or doing dramatizations to make history come alive. Since retirement Ms. Cummins-Dietz has presented several of her stories at nursing/assisted living facilities, and other organizations in Greeley. Ms Dietz has loved sewing since early in life. Later, this turned into a passion for quilting. As a teacher she was known for her pieced/quilted clothing that coordinated with the various units being taught. Many of her quilts/quilted wall hangings tell a story.
Jeanie Snyder, the vocalist, has been singing all her life. Currently, she is a member of the First United Methodist Church choir. She periodically entertains at various nursing/assisted living facilities. Ms. Snyder has performed in several Greeley Stampede Troupe productions. She was the Bird of Samarkand in “Once Upon a Mattress," Mrs. Bumble in “Oliver”, and Miss Hannigan in “Annie”. Ms Snyder enjoys supporting Ms Cummins-Dietz in her quilt history presentations.
The Images above are the exclusive Copyright © of Corrinne Cummins-Dietz and may not be reproduced without written permission from the artist.
