For Immediate Release:
Contact: Lois Frankenberger, publicist
978.470.0040
lfrankenberger@comcast.net
MUSEUM: American Textile History Museum
ADDRESS: 491 Dutton Street, Lowell, Mass.
HOURS: Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Weekends 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.;
Closed Mondays and holidays.
ADMISSION: $8 for adults, $6 for students, seniors and groups; free for children under 6 and Museum members. Free Museum parking. Building is wheelchair accessible.
INFORMATION: 978-441-0400; www.athm.org
The American Textile History Museum - housed in a renovated textile building on the Western Canal in Lowell, Massachusetts - tells America's story through the arts, science and history of our textiles. Visitors this fall will discover something for everyone in the family to enjoy. Features include the engaging "Textiles in America" exhibition and children's Textile Learning Center (TLC); special Exhibition Gallery, and the Gazebo Café.
Runway Madness! The Fashion Photographs of Lucian Perkins
Saturday, August 16, 2003 through Sunday, January 4, 2004.
Experience the excitement of the fashion runway as seen by Pulitzer Prize winning Washington Post photojournalist Lucian Perkins, who captures the excitement and drama of New York's Fashion Week both on the runway and behind-the-scenes with over 60 images spanning a decade of haute couture. The Museum rounds out the exhibit with a display of couture pieces from its collection of historic costumes, a special juried show of "Future Fashions," and contemporary pieces hot off the runway. Exhibit sponsored in part by Merida Meridian, Inc., Commencement Photos, Inc., and the Museum's Annual Fund donors, in collaboration with Fashion Group International, Boston.
Runway Madness! An Evening of Fabulous Fashion
Saturday, September 20, 6:30 p.m. - Party with the best at a cocktail reception featuring local 'fashionistas' and a special viewing of "Runway Madness!" exhibition. Tickets are $40 per person; $35 for Museum and Fashion Group International, Boston members. For information 978.441.0400, ext. 246 or www.athm.org.
Donor Recognition Night
Wednesday, October 8, 6 p.m. - An invitational featuring a cocktail reception and recognition for the Museum's fans and friends. For ticket information 978.441.0400 ext. 246 or www.athm.org.
Annual Gala
Friday, November 14, 6 p.m. - Black Tie invitational featuring cocktail reception, dinner and dancing to The Winiker Orchestra, Community Service Award ceremony, and a special viewing of "Runway Madness!" exhibition. For ticket information and participation opportunities 978.441.0400, ext. 234 or www.athm.org.
American Textile Hall of Fame Induction of Class of 2003
Monday, September 8, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. - Invitational luncheon, induction ceremony and Hall of Fame dedication. Tickets $45 and $30 for Textile Industry Membership Program members 978.471.0400, ext. 243 or www.athm.org.
National Spinning & Weaving Week Celebration
Tuesday, October 7 through Saturday, October 11 - Weavers' Guild of Boston members are in residence to demonstrate fiber art skills and offer a chance for visitors of all ages to try their hand at looms and wheels during regular Museum hours. Free with Museum admission.
2003 Canal Heritage Days - October 10 - 12
Colonial Days
Tuesday, through Saturday, November 4-8; and November 18 -22. - This interactive program for school-age children features Colonial-era, fiber arts, crafts, games, and food-ways demonstrated by costumed Museum Teachers. Reserve your two-hour time slot including one hour of hands-on and one-hour of teacher directed tours of the Colonial displays in the Textiles in America exhibition. Cost is $4.00 per student; one chaperone per group of 15 students admitted free. Phone 978-441-0400 ext. 244 or email reservations@athm.org. Designed for students in grades 3-5. No minimum number of students; maximum 60 per two-hour time slot.
11th Annual Concord Festival of Authors
Saturday, November 1, 7:30 a.m.- Breakfast with the Authors This year, Alan Lightman and Alice Hoffman are part of an author's panel. Ticket information, 978/441-0400 x246
Annual Victorian Holiday Tea - 2:00 p.m.
Presented by Donna and Ron Lasko, the "Ultimate Tea Couple," this holiday treat includes an array of delicious tea sandwiches, desserts, and Courtship Tea; plus admission to the "Runway Madness" special exhibition. Raffle and door prizes. Advance registration and payment required. 978.441-0400, ext.244.
Textiles in America
The story of how people have used art and science over the past 250 years to create beautiful and useful textiles. This 35,000 square-foot, bi-level installation includes imaginative period settings, gallery displays and interactive stations featuring over 500 artifacts from the Museum's collections of textiles, clothing and accessories, tools, machines, photographs, and advertising ephemera. A large-scale mid-1900s factory weave room produces fabric on looms for the Museum's heirLOOMS™ collection of textile products.
A hands-on opportunity for families with children up to age 12 to experience the history of textiles and how they are made. Arranged in three main areas, the offerings include a Spinning and Weaving Center equipped with floor and table looms for yarn- and textile-making, games to play, and exhibits on how textiles are made; an Exhibition Center with displays and activities relating to each of the Museum's changing special exhibitions; and a Reading Center stocked with children's books, puppets and special displays to help tell the story of textiles.
Sunday is Family Day.
Whether it's with a special guest or an experienced Museum Teacher, there's always some family fun hands-on project happening on Sundays at 2 p .m.
"Runway Madness Specials" in the Textile Learning Center
August 16, 2003 through January 4, 2004. - Special new displays and hands-on activities including clothing designs inspired by Hello Kitty™, dress-up area, interactive fiber arts table stations, computer-aided design station, mannequin draping, and a wall display of Frank Lloyd Wright design-inspired clothing.
