Threads of Legacy: Weaving Hope, Tradition, and Justice in the U.S. South
June 4-8 Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Join Weave a Real Peace the first week of June in Alabama for our 2025 Annual Meeting as we explore the rich and complex textile traditions of the U.S. South. From the Freedom Quilting Bee to the iconic Gee’s Bend quilts, we’ll uncover stories of resilience, creativity, and community. Engage in thought-provoking discussions, field trips to historic sites, and collaborative learning to honor the past while weaving a connected, just, and peaceful future. Registration now open!
The WARP Annual Meeting is open to members only. If you are not yet a WARP member and would like to attend, we welcome you to join. If you are interested in attending this year’s meeting, please join WARP today!
Meeting schedule
Wednesday, June 4 @ university of alabama
Conference check-in will open at the University of Alabama on Wednesday afternoon. It is a WARP tradition to start the Annual Meeting on the first evening with a Welcome Circle where everyone introduces themselves briefly. The 2025 Annual Meeting will begin with dinner at 6 pm, followed by the Annual Welcome Circle at 7 pm.
Thursday, june 5 @ university of alabama
The program will begin on Thursday morning with WARP’s Annual Business Meeting, followed by presentations delivered by Mary Madison (keynote), Dr. Steve Brown, and the 2025 Alice Brown Memorial Scholarship Recipients. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served on-site and shuttle transportation to and from the meeting residence hall will be provided.
“Joy Comes in the Morning: Testimonies of Slave Weavers“
Fiber Artist Mary Madison is originally from West Virginia. As a child, she spent hours in the mountainside collecting clay and searing into her memory spectacular sunsets and cloud formations which often appear in her artwork. She is a self-taught weaver, avid ceramicist and landscape tapestry enthusiast. She teaches fiber art classes at the Manitou Art Center in Manitou Springs, Colorado. With any spare time, she uses quilting techniques to make contemporary quilted wall hangings.
Mary is the author the book “Plantation Slave Weavers Remember- An Oral History” and received her M.S. Degree in Organization Development from Central Washington University.
“Cotton – A Storied Crop Touching Southern Lives, Farms, Mills and Economies“
Steve M. Brown is a 1978 graduate in Agronomy & Soils from Auburn University and later earned M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Agronomy / Weed Science at Auburn and Texas A&M, respectively. After completing his Ph.D. in 1987, he assumed the role of Extension Weed Scientist with responsibilities in cotton and peanuts at the University of Georgia, and from 1995 to 2008, as the Extension Cotton Agronomist, serving statewide but located in Tifton. In the latter role, he led the UGA Cotton Team during those years. He retired (or semi-retired) in July 2024 and is currently serving in a teaching role at Auburn, providing instruction in Basic and Advanced Crop Science courses. His entire career has focused on cotton. He and his wife Lisa reside in Auburn. They have three grown sons and three grandchildren.
Alice Brown Memorial Scholarship Recipients
A highlight of the Annual Meeting is learning about the work of the Alice Brown Memorial Scholarship recipients via their presentations. The scholarship assists applicants ages 18-35 in attending the WARP Annual Meeting. Preference is given to students or recent graduates, but those pursuing non-traditional career paths related to WARP’s mission are also encouraged to apply. This year the scholarship includes a complimentary 2-year WARP membership, Annual Meeting registration costs, room and board, and travel expenses (up to $500 for domestic travel and up to $1000 for international travel). Click here for more information about the 2025 scholarship and to apply.
Friday, june 6
Optional Field trips OR workshop
Meeting attendees will have the choice to attend one of two field trips to explore the rich and diverse history of Alabama, or participate in a hands-on workshop on the campus of the University of Alabama. Field trips and workshops are optional and costs are listed separately from your Annual Meeting registration. Breakfast and dinner will be provided on campus for all Annual Meeting attendees.
Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy Tour, $155 – Hosted by the Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy, guests will enjoy a tour of the Freedom Quilting Bee Museum where they will learn about the Freedom Quilting Bee’s role in the Civil Rights Movement followed by a tour of the Gee’s Bend Heritage Trail featuring framed quilts and their stories. This tour includes bus transportation to and from Gee’s Bend (approximately two hours each way), a quilting demonstration, and a box lunch. The quilts of Gee’s Bend are among the most important African-American visual and cultural contributions to the history of art within the United States. The residents of Gee’s Bend are direct descendants of the enslaved people who worked the cotton plantation established in 1816 by Joseph Gee with quilting traditions that can be dated back to the nineteenth century. Known for abstract designs never before seen expressed on quilts, the unique “my way” quilts of Gee’s Bend have gained international attention and acclaim for their artistry, with exhibitions of Gee’s Bend quilts held in museums and galleries around the world.
Historic Birmingham Tour, $50- On this tour of Birmingham cultural landmarks and institutions, guests will visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute to learn about the city’s integral role in the Civil Rights Movement, as well as a tour of the Birmingham Museum of Art. Enjoy lunch on your own at one of the city’s vibrant eateries. This tour includes bus transportation to and from Birmingham (approximately an hour each way) as well as admission to the Civil Rights Institute and the Museum of Art. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute features exhibits and experiences depicting the events and actions of the 1963 Birmingham Civil Rights campaign, the Children’s Crusade, and other events of the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 60s. The Birmingham Museum of Art, one of the finest regional museums in the United States, houses a diverse collection of more than 29,000 paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, and decorative arts dating from ancient to modern times. The collection presents a rich panorama of cultures, featuring the Museum’s extensive holdings of Asian, European, American, African, Pre-Columbian, and Native American art.
Hands-On Weaving Workshop, $25- Weaving is not the only textile medium within the WARP orbit, but it is at the core. If you are a WARP member with little to no experience of weaving or simply want to have a maker day in a casual setting, this experience is for you. Decompress at the loom and get a taste of the artistry built into the organization’s name. Hosted by WARP grant recipient and Alabama-based weaver and dyer Lynn Battle, WARP board member Liz Gipson, and local artist and weaver Miriam Omura. They will offer a 5 hour long round robin style weaver-tunity. Round robins are a popular format in weaving circles. There are multiple loom setups available for participants to rotate among, allowing them to weave small pieces of woven cloth they can take with them. These small bits of cloth can be transformed into needle cases, pin cushions, coasters, and felted cut shapes to take with you as a token of your experience. A box lunch is included. This activity is offered at very low cost thanks to the sponsorship of WARP members Tim & Cynthia Hale.
After our day of activities, we will come back together on campus for dinner and a complimentary screening of the film Interlacements – Threads and Lives created by WARP members Marilyn and Rainer Romatka. There will be a Zoom introduction by the Romatkas before the film, and a Q&A with them after the film.
Hand-crafted cloth facilitates a relationship – between the weaver and the end-user of the cloth. Interlacements – Threads and Lives is a collection of personal stories about hand-made cloth and the people whose lives it touches. We want to express that hand-woven textiles are more than just unique, that they can remind the user of the person who wove it – a special connection between weaver and recipient – every time the cloth is used. The stories we tell in this documentary celebrate and showcase these moments. This film is offered to WARP members for free thanks to the generosity of the Romatkas.
Saturday, june 7 @ University of alabama
The program continues on Saturday with speakers Zellipah Githui and Louise Witherspoon Williams, and presentations by Gloria Davis Memorial Assistantship Recipients & International Marketplace Vendors. In the evening, we will have the always-entertaining annual WARP Fashion Show and Live Auction. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served on-site and shuttle transportation to and from the meeting residence hall will be provided.
“How Weaving as a Chore Impacted my Immigration Journey“
Zellipah Githui is the founder of Gitzell FairTrade, a social impact brand whose mission is to improve the livelihood of families in Africa. Growing up in Kenya in a large family with few resources, Zellipah knows firsthand what poverty is. She learned the art of weaving from her mother and now partners with women weavers from several African countries to create fair trade home decor and accessories. Her specialization lies in facilitating grassroots activities that uplift the livelihoods of families in Africa, particularly at the intersection of fair trade and smallholder farming. Driven by her passion to make a meaningful impact, Zellipah is deeply committed to enhancing local and global communities. She believes in the power of storytelling to shed light on important issues such as immigrants’ experiences, justice, diversity, equity and inclusion.
“Through Hope and Tradition we created a Legacy – The Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy”
Louise Witherspoon Williams was born and raised in Alberta, Alabama and graduated from 20th Century Business College in 1979. Her mother, Estelle Witherspoon, was the voice and heartbeat of the Freedom Quilting Bee, which she co-founded in 1966. Louise learned the value of family and community from her parents (Estelle and Eugene), grandmother, aunts, uncles, and elder cousins at an early age. Louise has traveled domestically and internationally with her husband of 43 years, Eugene, who is a U.S. Veteran and her twin daughters, Tamika and Jamika, but she will always call Alberta home. Louise serves as President of the newly formed Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy, where she follows in her mother’s footsteps to continue to enrich the lives of the people in Alberta and surrounding communities and to share the wonderful gifts the people of these communities bring to the world.
Gloria Davis Memorial Assistantship Recipients
The Gloria Davis Memorial Assistantship Fund began in 2018 thanks to WARP member Susan Davis’s donation of the Gloria Davis Textile Collection. Susan’s friend Gloria Davis was an anthropologist who collected Indonesian textiles over her lifetime of doing field work. Proceeds from the sale of these textiles established the Assistantship fund, which is now sustained by donations. Assistants have the opportunity to give a 15-minute presentation about themselves and their work, and to have a sales table the afternoon following their presentations. To learn more about the Gloria Davis Memorial Assistantship and to apply, click here.
Sunday, june 8
No programs scheduled. A light breakfast will be provided during housing check-out and complimentary airport shuttles will be provided to all Annual Meeting attendees.
2025 WARP International Marketplace
The International Marketplace is always inspiring, and filled with textiles from around the world! This is a WONDERFUL place to purchase unique textiles directly from the artisans who made them, or from WARP members working to promote the work of artisans they work with. The vendor marketplace will be open select hours on Thursday and Saturday. If you wish to be a vendor, please indicate your interest when you complete the meeting registration, or email us directly.
Additional details
Meeting Location: The 2025 WARP Annual Meeting will take place on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Meeting attendees will have the option to participate in field trips to Gees Bend, Alabama or Birmingham, Alabama. All other meeting programs, meals, and events will take place on the University campus.
Meals: WARP’s meeting registration includes dinner on Wednesday, breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Thursday, breakfast and dinner on Friday, breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday. Provided meals will accommodate most dietary needs and you will have the chance to specify when completing the meeting registration form.
Transportation:
- WARP will provide transportation shuttles between the Birmingham International Airport and University of Alabama, as well as to and from events on campus.
- There is ample parking at the University for those who wish to drive their own vehicles. Parking passes are $1 for the duration of the event.
WARP’s Annual Live Auction: We are gearing up for our much anticipated annual auction! If you are attending the Annual Meeting, you may bring your auction donations with you. For those who are not attending in person, but would like to make a donation, please email us.
2025 Fashion Show: Share the WARP stage on Saturday night by being part of a fun and casual fashion show! Bring something wearable you’ve made, or a textile treasure you’ve brought from around the world. When you register, we’ll give you a 3″x5″ card to write out 2-3 sentences about what it is, how it was made, who made it, and so forth. Humor encouraged but not required. Limit 2 pieces per person, and it’s fine to recruit a model if you wish. Join us for this fun evening event and appreciate all our talent and taste.
Optional Pre-Conference Tour: The Legacy of the Civil Rights Movement in Montgomery and Selma: We have a pre-conference tour option in the works, but it will require at least 15 participants. Please email Deborah Chandler by February 5th if you are interested in participating. This is not a commitment to participate, but will help us gauge general interest. The tour will be hosted by the Alabama Civil Rights Tourism Association, focused on visiting important civil rights sites that we won’t be able to visit during the WARP meeting. With an itinerary from Monday, June 2nd – Wednesday, June 4th, the cost would be approximately $1400, plus some meals, and include accommodations and transportation. Click Here for more information about the proposed tour itinerary.
Conference costs
Meeting Registration:
Base Registration Fees:
- Earlybird Rate (Available through April 11): $420 – Registration for full conference attendance, includes programs & meals.
- Late Registration (Available after April 11): $450 – Registration for full conference attendance, includes programs & meals.
- Student Rate: $250 – Reduced registration for full conference attendance, includes programs & meals.
- Day registration for Thursday, June 5th: $130 – Registration for Thursday Programs, including breakfast, lunch, & dinner.
- Day Registration for Saturday, June 7th: $130 – Registration for Saturday Programs, including breakfast, lunch, dinner & evening fashion show/auction.
Optional Add-On Costs:
- Housing $140 – Includes 4 nights in the campus dormitory, with check-in on Wednesday, June 4th, and checkout on Sunday, June 8th. All rooms are suite-style with a private bedroom and shared sitting room/bathroom. You can name your preferred suite-mate below.
- Linens Package $45 – Linen packs include a flat sheet, fitted sheet, blanket, pillowcase, pillow, body towel, hand towel, and wash cloth.
- Parking Pass $1 – There is ample parking at the University for those who wish to drive their own vehicles. Parking passes are $1 for the duration of the event.
- Choose your Friday Activity:
- Option 1: Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy Tour $155 – Join us for a day-trip to Gees Bend, Alabama. Cost includes full tour, bus transportation (approximately two hours each way), a quilting demonstration, and box lunch.
- Option 2: Historic Birmingham Tour $50 – This tour will visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the Birmigham Museum of Art. Cost includes admissions and bus transportation (approximately an hour each way).
- Option 3: Hands-On Weaving Workshop $25 – This option is for those who wish to stay on-campus and participate in a round-robin weaving workshop. Cost includes a box lunch.
Virtual program attendance is free to WARP members. We will be live-streaming our Thursday and Saturday programs. Though there is no cost, we ask you to register so that you will receive communication and the Zoom links.
Financial Aid
WARP has two awards which cover the full cost of conference registration. To apply for a Gloria Davis Memorial Assistantship or an Alice Brown Memorial Scholarship, please visit our Financial Assistance Page. This year, both awards also include travel funding, thanks to generous donor support.
Meeting Policies
Meeting Cancellation Policy: 97% of the registration fee is refundable until May 1st, 2025. (WARP is unable to refund a 3% bank fee for meeting registration cancellations.) From May 1st until May 16, 2025 there will be a refund of 50%. After May 16, 2025, we are unable to issue refunds.
Registration Age Policy: Registration is open to participants 18 and older. Those younger than 18 may register to attend, if accompanied by a legal guardian who is also registered as an attendee.
Photo/Video Release: WARP reserves the right to use photographs and video taken at WARP events for marketing purposes including, but not limited to, on social media, on our website, and in print and/or e-mail marketing campaigns. By registering for a WARP event, you authorize WARP to use your likeness without additional permission for these purposes.
WARP is a catalyst for improving the quality of life of textile artisans worldwide. We are an inclusive global network of individuals and organizations who value the social, cultural, historic, artistic, and economic importance of textile arts.