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LEWISTON — Interest in the amazing exhibit — “Covering the Nation: The Art of the Bedspread Exhibit” — has been brisk. The Costume Society of America hold its conference in Portland and requested the present exhibit be extended through May 31. More than 30 people from all over the country have already signed up to attend.
As part of extending the exhibit, Museum L-A has acquired several new and interesting artifacts that will be a huge addition to its collection. When asked which new acquisition was her favorite, Executive Director Rachel Desgrosseilliers contemplated and then replied, “It is hard to choose since there are several that are truly amazing finds.”
One is a pale green “Woolly Lamb” design of a child’s woven bedcover donated to the museum by Martica Sawin of New York. While visiting the museum’s bedspread exhibit, Mrs. Sawin was amazed to find the story of her father, Herman Ruhm, included in the exhibit. Ruhm served as president of Bates Manufacturing in the 1940s. “Woolly Lamb” was brought home for her when she was a child, and all her children as well as grandchildren have slept under the comfort of this child’s bedcover. When Martica returned with her daughters, they showed heavy hearts in leaving “Woolly Lamb,” she said, but all agreed this is where it belonged.
Another beautiful addition to the exhibit is a well-worn peach-colored “Farm Landscape” bedspread donated by Patricia Morton of Lewiston, along with a photograph of her as a child playing on the bedcover in the 1950s.
The “Travelogue,” a Bates 1936 salesman’s folding catalogue featuring designs inspired by “research in the four corners of the world” for color and design is a major addition. In it Bates proudly presents 23 of its newest creations reflecting the genius of Bates and truly characterizes the finest work of its time. A black and white floral double weave novelty textured yarn design bedspread is on loan from a donor in Maryland. The Museum is hoping to eventually be able to acquire it since it is unique to its collection.
The exhibit goes beyond the machine process of creating a bedspread. “While the city of Lewiston’s legendary generations of dedicated and skilled spinners and weavers brought Bates bedspreads into being,” explained Jacqueline Field, a textile historian and guest curator of the exhibit, “another group, with different skills and abilities, worked in the mill to create the designs — repertoire ranging from traditional to fashionable.” From their work, as represented in the exhibit, it is apparent the Bates designers were well versed in contemporary and historic design precedents and understood the limitations imposed by the respective production processes, some of which were extremely complex.
Museum L-A is located in the Bates Mill Complex at 35 Canal St. It is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the first Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and by appointment. For tours or information, contact Robert at rcaron@museumla.org or call 207-333-3881.
