This weekend, the River City Food and Wine Festival opens at the Central Art Museum, spotlighting the talent of local artists and creators.
Among the festival’s featured exhibitions is a collection of intricate quilts by self-taught artist Marjorie Lane. Lane’s display, the culmination of five years of work, showcases the transformation of donated fabric scraps into striking tapestries, wall art, and displays. “Every piece of material I use comes from people in my hometown of Maple Grove,” Lane explained. “My studio is on Main Street, and folks leave bags of old clothes and textiles at my door. Every item in this exhibit was given to me.”
A native of North Carolina and graduate of Pine State University, Lane draws on four generations of family quilting traditions in her showcase, “Stitching Ground.”
The festival also highlights the work of another self-taught artist, Dorothy Lee, whose creations fill several rooms of the museum. Lee, who lived in Oak Hill, was known for turning everyday objects into imaginative works of art, drawing visitors from across the globe to her home and garden installations.
“This is a woman who, in 1974, purchased her own home with earnings from domestic work, and who used simple materials—paint, glue, and found objects, often picked up at the local store or brought to her by friends and neighbors,” said exhibition co-curator Rachel Myers. “She lived a life wholly dedicated to creative expression.”
Lee passed away in 2008 at the age of 65, leaving behind a legacy of more than three decades of transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. Her life and work are the subject of a documentary produced by filmmaker Samuel Brooks.
“She was remarkably resourceful and always let her creativity shine,” Brooks said. “We hope her story inspires others to pursue their own artistic passions.”
The Lane and Lee exhibitions are part of the River City Food and Wine Festival, which runs through Sunday. Both exhibits will remain on view at the Central Art Museum through June 14.
