Collecting Black Memorabilia, Creating Patchwork Quilts and Gardening for Families on Saturday, June 18 in Brooklyn

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) June 17, 2011 -- Collecting Black Memorabilia, creating patchwork quilts and gardening for families are some of the free, fun family activities taking place at Bedford Stuyvesant’s Magnolia Tree Earth Center, Eubie Blake Theater in Herbert Von Kingpark, 670 Lafayette Avenue on Saturday, June 18.

“Making Eco-Connections: Where We Live, Where We Are,” are urban ecology inspired workshops from 9:00am to 3:00pm that feature hands-on interactive presentations from experts in collecting, quilting and gardening. A light breakfast and lunch will also be served.

10:00am-11:30am: “How to Create a Black Memorabilia Collection” with Fern Gillespie, a collector and communications consultant. Most African American families have Black Memorabilia collections and don’t even realize it. There are old family photos, vintage Ebony and Jet magazines, Black college yearbooks, Black art on the walls and even family heirlooms. The program will explore how to find, research and display Black Memorabilia collections. Fern Gillespie has held key positions with the NAACP, Johnson Publishing, Huggy Bean dolls and the Studio Museum in Harlem and has over 500 rare objects in her collection. There will be a free raffle of two Black Memorabilia items. Bring your favorite collectibles to discuss.

11:30am-1:00pm: “Patchwork Traditions: The Art of Recycling Fabric and Children’s Clothes” with Laura Gadson, nationally acclaimed quilt artist. Historically quilting has been an adventure in recycling. The poorer communities all over the work have various patchwork traditions that reflect their culture and the fact that they had to be creative with their own and leftover resources. This hands-on workshop will introduce the basics of creating a patchwork quilt with loved ones’ old clothing. Basic sewing, quilting tools and techniques will be explored and how to complete the project after class. Laura Gadson is also an educator and the founder of Harlem Girls Quilters Circle. She’s taught art at the Children’s Arts Carnival, Harlem Needle Arts, Yaffa Cultural Arts, NYC Department of Education and Princeton University. Participants should bring 4 or more cotton fabric items that can be cut up and created into a family heirloom.

1:00pm–1:45pm: Lite Lunch with Rodney Hughes, Creator of the Magnolia Grandiflora essence perfume. Samples will be distributed.

1:45pm-3:00pm: “You and the Natural Environment” with Tioma Allison. This is a journey through the garden with families to connect them with the environment. Tioma Allison is a registered nurse, midwife and herbologist.

“This is the final of the three week series that featured fun, family interactive programs to connect the community to ecology friendly projects,” said Bernice Green, a Bed Stuy resident and president of Legacy Ventures. She coordinated the series as a volunteer for Magnolia Tree Earth Center.

The program is provided through a grant Councilman Al Vann (D-District 36) and Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD). To RSVP for the programs, please call 718-387-2116 or 718-599-6828.

Bedford Stuyvesant     Bernice Green Legacy Ventures     Black Memorabilia     Councilman Al Vann     DYCD     Fern Gillespie     Laura Gadson     Magnolia Tree Earth Center