Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising Public Programming
Our programs highlight the wide range of the Avenir’s current exhibitions, as well as guest presenters on unique subjects. Join us for these free, public lectures on an intriguing array of textile topics!
Wandering Spirit: The History of African Wax Prints
Thursday, September 23 | 7 p.m. Mountain Time | Virtual Presentation on Zoom
Join CSU’s Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising for a virtual program with Dr. Gifty Benson, the guest curator of the exhibit “Wandering Spirit: African Wax Prints” on display at the Avenir through December 17, 2021. A retired pediatric dentist born in Ghana, West Africa, Dr. Benson will discuss the historical and contemporary significance of these textiles, their cultural and economic importance, and how the wax prints reflect the stories, dreams, and personalities of the people who wear them.
Register to receive the Zoom link.
Avenir Museum Quarterly Book Club
Wednesday, November 17 | 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Mountain Time | Virtual Meeting on Zoom
The Avenir is pleased to announce our selection for the Fall 2021 Book Club’s virtual gathering! Please plan to procure a copy from your preferred library or bookseller, and then join us on Zoom on Wednesday, November 17 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. for a lively discussion of Threads of Life: A History of the World Through the Eye of a Needle (Abrams Books, 2019) by Claire Hunter. This book is described as “a chronicle of identity, protest, memory, power, and politics told through the stories of needlework…to celebrate the age-old, universal, and underexplored beauty and power of sewing.” We look forward to hearing how the book’s thoughtful prose and meanderings through time and place about plying a needle and thread speak to you. It seems a fitting book to read in these contemplative times we are living through, as autumnal days arrive.
Register to receive the Zoom link.
Past Programs
Curator Conversations
April 19, 2021 | 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | Virtual Presentation on Zoom
In conjunction with the virtual exhibition Threads of Our Community: A History of the Avenir Museum, join current Curator Dr. Katie Knowles and Assistant Curator Megan Osborne (’04) in conversation with Curator Emerita Linda Carlson (‘88). Listen in as Linda remembers projects and events over her 23 years as curator, then ask your burning curatorial questions. This conversation will be filmed at the Avenir Museum, including behind-the-scenes in the museum’s collection storage room. Mark your calendars for what promises to be an evening of fabulous story-telling about the museum’s fascinating textile treasures.
Curator Conversations
November 5, 2020 | 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | Virtual Presentation on Zoom
In conjunction with the virtual exhibition Threads of Our Community: A History of the Avenir Museum, join current Curator Dr. Katie Knowles in conversation with Curator Emerita Linda Carlson (‘88). Listen in as Linda remembers projects and events over her 23 years as curator, then ask your burning curatorial questions. This conversation will be filmed at the Avenir Museum, including behind-the-scenes in the museum’s collection storage room. Mark your calendars for what promises to be an evening of fabulous story-telling about the museum’s fascinating textile treasures.
Caring For Your Family Treasures
December 8, 2020 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Virtual Presentation on Zoom
Join CSU Libraries and the Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising for expert advice on how to preserve your family archives, photos, and textile heirlooms. Staff will provide tips on how to store various items, and how to create digital files to record and organize important information. Registrants will receive a digital packet of handouts prior to the event. Staff will also answer live questions from the audience. Learn how to save and document your artifacts and the stories they tell about your family’s history.