"Stitched Together"

The Historical Society of Rockland County, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Rockland County and the Federation's PJ Library, invites you to "StitchedTogether," a comparative presentation of some of Rockland's ethnic needlework/textile traditions. The program takes place at the Historical Society’s museum at 20 Zukor Road, in New City, NY, on Sunday, February 27th, from 3 p.m. to 5p.m.   

On hand will be representatives of three of Rockland's ethnic folk artstraditions. Embroiderer and textile historian Ita Aber will speak about and presentsamples of Ashkenazic as well as Sephardic Jewish needlework, including Sabbathtable linens, challah covers, prayer items, clothing, and more. Ukrainian-American presenters Marion Dolhun and Patricia Wiszuk-De Angelo will show and tell about Ukrainian embroidered clothing, rushnyky (ritual towels), tablelinens, Easter basket covers, and more. Visitors are encouraged to attend and to bring in a sample of embroidery or other needlework made by members of your own family and/or cultural tradition, to enrich the discussion further.  

Interactive learning activities related to these traditions will be provided for children K through 8 in the Society's classroom space. An engaging reading from children's literature on the theme of immigration, quilts, and other textiles will follow the folk arts presentation (Patricia Polacco's The Keeping Quilt).

The program will be hosted by consulting folklorist Eileen Condon.  Admission is free.   Support for this program was provided to the Historical Society by public funds from the Folk Arts program of the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency.