“The Master Quilter’ author to speak at Elvehjem

Jennifer Chiaverini, author of “The Master Quilter,” will speak at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, July 15, in room L160 of the Elvehjem Museum of Art, 800 University Ave. Chiaverini, who lives in Middleton, also wrote the five previous novels in the Elm Creek Quilt series. She will speak on quilting traditions in her writing.

The free presentation is in conjunction with an Elvehjem exhibition, “Quilts: Artistry in Pattern from the Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection.” The exhibition presents 28 quilts from the UW–Madison School of Human Ecology.

Preceding the lecture at 4:45 p.m., a docent will lead a tour of the quilt exhibition. Following the lecture, the Museum Shop will sponsor a book signing and extend gift shop hours to 8 p.m. to coincide with extended gallery hours.

The public is welcome to bring a favorite quilt with a story to share. The quilt may be either an historic heirloom or a recent creation. Several people will be selected to share the story of their quilt with the audience.

In the Elm Creek Quilt series, Chiaverini, who once taught writing at Edgewood College, follows eight women linked by their operation of a successful business. The group runs a camp for quilters at the historic Elm Creek Manor, family estate of the team’s guiding light Sylvia Compson.

Released in April, “The Master Quilter” is set in the present time. But some novels in the series, including “The Quilter’s Legacy,” which was a 2003 New York Times bestseller, explore earlier quilting traditions.

The quilts in the exhibition represent various genres made from 1800-1997, predominantly from the United States but also including examples from other cultural quilt traditions.

Support for the exhibition was provided by the School of Human Ecology, Anonymous Fund, Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation, Brittingham Fund, Inc., Hilldale Fund, Lands’ End, Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission with additional funds from the Madison Community Foundation and the Overture Foundation, Bernina of America Inc., Sears/Peking Handicraft Inc., and the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin.