Thursday, April 23, 2009

Peacock Alley: A Community Celebration (by Brookwood School)

(Dalton, Georgia): Brookwood School will present a history event to celebrate the history of Dalton's bedspread and carpet industry. "Peacock Alley: A Community Celebration" will feature art, dance, poetry, and music, and community history. "Simple Gifts" was conceived and directed by Sandra Hughes, with musical accompaniment by Paul Byrum and friends. There will also be photography, spoken word poetry, and guitar by Mason Gavin and Nicky Millwood, along with Community conversation, music, art, video, and a living history exhibit. Creative Arts Guild is a partnering organization.

(Historic background): Dalton, known as the Carpet Capital of the World, is known for the manufacture of tufted carpet. The industry had its beginnings in a humble cottage bedspread industry that started with one handmade bedspread, tufted by Catherine Evans (who later became Catherine Evans Whitener). Evans' bedspreads became so popular with tourists, that Evans devised a folk method of transferring the patterns to speed up the process. Local families sold the spreads to tourists along highway 41, who enjoyed buying them off of spreadlines. One favorite motif was the colorful peacock: hence the nickname, "Peacock Alley," for old U.S. 41. "Simple Gifts," an excerpt from a dance and drama tribute to Catherine Evans Whitener, will be a highlight of the exhibit. Evans was honored by being inducted into Georgia Woman of Achievement in 2001.

(Dates, Location, Information):

This event will be held on Friday, May 1, 2009 at 6:30 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 510 S. Tibbs Road, Dalton, Georgia. For more information, visit the Brookwood School website: http://www.bkwdschool.org/

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