9/2: Woven Legacies Lecture
The Floyd Center for the Arts will welcome museum professional and fashion historian Ashley Webb for Woven Legacies: Stories, Traditions, and the Material Culture of Appalachian Overshot Coverlets on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at 5:30 PM. The lecture is free and open to the public.
The special lecture will explore the rich Appalachian tradition of geometric woven coverlets, including the mechanics, creativity, skill, and labor that went into creating a single coverlet.
Highlighting historic coverlets from the Old Church Gallery featured in the exhibition Strings Attached: The Enduring Appeal of Overshot Coverlets, Webb will take a deeper look at the material culture surrounding these treasured textiles. Through patterns, weaving techniques, and the objects themselves, the lecture will reveal stories of family, community, and identity while exploring the enduring legacy of Appalachian textile traditions.
About Ashley Webb
Ashley Webb received her BA in History and Anthropology from Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, and her MA in Museum Studies from Bournemouth University in Dorset, England. She is the Executive Director and Curator of Collections and Exhibitions for the Historical Society of Western Virginia, which operates the Roanoke History Museum and O. Winston Link Museum.
In addition to her work with the Historical Society, Webb works with several local museums as a contract museum collections specialist, including the Taubman Museum of Art and the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech. She has also guest curated exhibitions throughout central and southwest Virginia.
Webb serves as a Director-At-Large with the Virginia Association of Museums. In 2026, Governor Abigail Spanberger appointed her to the Virginia Commission for the Arts as the Region 6 Commissioner. Her specialty is fashion history, and she is the owner of Bustle Textiles, a historic dress preservation company with an emphasis on creating traveling fashion exhibitions for small museums.
Event Details
Woven Legacies: Stories, Traditions, and the Material Culture of Appalachian Overshot Coverlets
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Free admission | Open to the public
Floyd Center for the Arts
220 Parkway Lane South
Floyd, VA 24091
The lecture accompanies Strings Attached: The Enduring Appeal of Overshot Coverlets, featuring historic coverlets from the Old Church Gallery and celebrating the craftsmanship, stories, and textile traditions of the region.
About the Floyd Center for the Arts
The Floyd Center for the Arts connects people through visual arts, handmade craft, and music, honoring living traditions while embracing innovation. Located in Floyd, Virginia, the Center offers exhibitions, classes, workshops, community events, and opportunities for artists and visitors throughout the region.
