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Share Discover the rich history of the plantation and historic house on this guided tour. Property pass included in ticket price.
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Description
Artist, Designer, Matriarch: How our understanding of textiles and fashion are informing archaeological interpretations at the Gilmore Farm.
Join Wendy as we spend an afternoon discussing the Gilmore farm and the women who lived and created there. The program will include a presentation in the Grand Salon on the textile and dressmaking finds in the Gilmore collection, and how our archaeological interpretation is informed by artifact and textile identification at the site. After a brief journey into the expertise and experience of black dressmakers and designers in the Gilmore household and community, we’ll take a walking tour of the cabin and farm of the Gilmore family itself.
By walking in the footsteps of the Matriarchs that shaped this family, we’ll create a powerful understanding of their art, engineering, and personal expression. We hope this afternoon program will give a better, nuanced understanding of the Gilmore women, and change the way we look at the labor and expertise of those who went before us.
About Wendy Rea
Wendy is currently pursuing her graduate studies in Archaeology and Heritage at the University of Leicester. After completing the season at Monticello, she joined the team at Montpelier in 2022. Her undergraduate degree in Cultural Anthropology and Archaeology provided the foundation for her work in public cultural heritage advocacy and consultation with Chinese and Indigenous descendant communities in the Southwest. Beyond her current academic pursuits, Wendy also earned a degree from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and indulges in a broad range of passions, spanning from genealogical research and textile arts to horse training and American vernacular music and dance.
Wendy's varied interests not only enrich her personal life but also deeply influence her professional pursuits. Through her research on the invisible labor and roles of women in history, she looks to better understand their contributions as artists, creators of community, and skilled professional
Date & Time
Sat, May 4, 2024 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Venue Details
James Madisons Montpelier
13425 Visitor Center RoadOrange, Virginia 22960
