JANUARY 1 - FEBRUARY 19

KKnown for his work in ultra-high-speed photography and stroboscopy, Dr. Edgerton bought his first camera in 1917 at the age of fourteen. After graduation from MIT, Dr. Edgerton was led to investigate the stroboscope and the possibility of using it in photography. The result produced enough light in controlled flashes of short duration to effectively “stop ” on photographic film. Edgerton's genius has captured bullets in flight, has stopped the flutter of a hummingbird's wings, and has captured the detonation of atomic bombs at a hundred millionth of a second. He has received many of our nation's highest awards. This exhibit of fifty of Edgerton's strobe photographs will reveal a split-second of our fast paced world.

MARCH 8 - APRIL 23

This exhibit of works by Sparta, Tennessee artists Russ and Nancy Jacobsohn will feature their unique talents in wood and clay sculpture. Russ Jacobsohn has gained his reputation as a wood artist of rocking animals including red cedar horses and pigs, cherry mountain mules, mahogany moose, alligators, and more. These animals are made durable enough to gallop through the fantasies of generations of children. Nancy Jacobsohn is a gifted clay sculptor. Her work includes the Horse Series, the Totem Series, and Women on the Ledge Series. She uses a variety of construction techniques including coil built, slab methods and solid modeling. Depending on the desired finish, Mrs. Jocobsohn uses smoke-firing, raku, saggar-firing or glazing. Both Mr. and Mrs. Jacobsohn are award- winning artists and their work has been exhibited in numerous galleries and shows internationally and widely featured in magazines, newspapers, and on various television shows.

May 9 - June 30

More than 250 antique and contemporary quilts will be on display in one of the south's largest shows. Quilts are judged in a variety of categories including beginners through advanced. Lectures, videos, workshops and a miniature quilt silent auction are highlights of the Show. Workshops will be taught by nationally recognized instructors. Retired seniors will be demonstrating traditional quilting around a quilt frame each Thursday. The Show formerly won the prestigious “Top Twenty Tourist Attractions In The Southeast” by the Southeast Tourism Society. It has also been featured in several national magazines including Southern Living, Country Living, Quilter's Newsletter Magazine, Quilts, Reader's Digest and more.

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July 8 - August 29

Aerial photographer Joe Thompson, Jr. recorded this outstanding pictorial record of World War II while serving in the conflict. Thompson, a Tennessean, served in Europe as a reconnaissance pilot for the United States Army Air Force and with the British Royal Air Force. Thompson took approximately six hundred photographs in England, France, and Germany during his three years of overseas service. Additionally, this exhibit contains artifacts relating to the aviation experience in Europe in the conflict including models of the aircraft flown and piloting equipment. This exhibit is on loan from the Tennessee State Museum.

September 6 - October 31

The Japanese have always had an appreciation for beautiful fabrics and sewing was a part of their everyday life. The art of quilting gives the modern Japanese woman an avenue of expression in design and color to incorporate with their appreciation of textiles. Their love of quilting will be expressed through approximately 30 uniquely beautiful quilts on loan to the museum from the Japanese Quilting Society of Tokyo, Japan. Quilts on display will combine both contemporary and one-of-a-kind designs, some made from antique Japanese fabrics. Traditional American patterns, often with Japanese influence, will add flavor to the display. A traditional Japanese tea ceremony will be conducted by Genkaku Umemori from Japan. His wife, Kyoko, an award winning quilter, will be teaching a quilting workshop.
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November 8 - December 31

For the female members of eighteenth and nineteenth century families, needlework was a necessary skill. Young girls learned stitching from their mothers and after a few years instruction they created a "sampler" of various stitches, designs and scenes. Often her name, date, and town were also embroidered onto a linen, silk, or canvas backing. This exhibit will contain samplers dating from the earliest available through samplers of today. To accompany the exhibition, the museum will host a series of workshops and lectures.