Marsha MacDowell sees a quilt as more than just a colorful blanket to keep someone warm – she sees history stitched into each of the unique designs.
As a curator at the MSU Museum, one of MacDowell’s main interests is looking at material culture, in particular, quiltmaking.
“Over the years I’ve done a lot of research in quiltmaking here in Michigan, across the nation and now, and embarking on the study of South African quiltmaking,” she said.
Hired in 1977 with her husband, Kurt Dewhurst, who is the director of the MSU Museum, MacDowell also is an art and art history professor.
MacDowell said there’s something special about the MSU Museum.
“I love the fact that our museum has many activist-oriented research projects and exhibitions, so it demonstrates how museums can play vital roles in today’s societies.”
MacDowell also is the coordinator of the statewide Michigan Traditional Arts Program and founding director of the Great Lakes Folk Festival.
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