Free Labor Day Open House at the Museum of Work & Culture
Annual Celebration to Feature Opening of Welcome Blanket Exhibit
(WOONSOCKET, R.I.) – The Museum of Work & Culture, a division of the Rhode Island Historical Society, will host its annual Labor Day Open House on Monday, September 2, from 10am to 4pm. Admission to the Museum will be free and the public is invited for a number of special programs and activities throughout the day.
The day will mark the official opening of a new special exhibit, Welcome Blanket. This special exhibit features hundreds of handmade blankets of all mediums from all over the country that will be gifted to incoming refugees following the run of the show, thanks to a partnership with Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island. Activities include a paper craft exploring quilting’s long history with immigration to New England and a visit from Beautiful Day, a Providence-based granola company dedicated to employing and educating refugees as they adjust to their new life in the United States.
At 10:30am, visitors will be invited to a special talk on Welcome Blanket from Museum of Work & Culture Public Programs Coordinator Béatrice Duchastel de Montrouge. This talk will show visitors the “behind the scenes” on the development of the exhibit and plans moving forward until the exhibit closes in November. Attendance is free with seats available at a first-come, first-served basis.
At 1:30pm, a special preview screening of “The Power of Nostalgia”, Episode 8 of the award-winning series Slatersville will be held, followed by a Q&A featuring filmmaker Christian de Rezendes, historian and co-writer Allison Horrocks, and historian Dr. Akeia de Barres Gomes. In 1950s Slatersville, there were four distinctive groups of people. While everyone worked together in the mill and for fundraising causes for the less fortunate, their lives were often defined by systemically created social barriers. The segregated worlds of classism, religion, and race are explored in this powerful chapter. This episode includes strong language and is not recommended for children; viewer discretion is advised. Attendance is free but registration is required. Tickets can be found at rihs.simpletix.com.
Enjoy a classic Labor Day lunch featuring hot dogs, grilled cheese, and fresh lemonade available for purchase from the BunzUp food cart, conveniently located right outside the Museum.
This event is made possible with the support of the Rhode Island Labor History Society.
Welcome Blanket is made possible with the support of Welcome Blanket and Jayna Zweiman, Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, the Blackstone Valley Piecemakers Quilting Guild, and the Blackstone Valley Quilting Company.
