Registration Details
Registration Opens: May 27th
Registration Deadline: July 7th
Program Description
Embark on an exclusive guided tour of the ‘Banners of Liberty: An Exhibition of Original Revolutionary War Flags‘ exhibition led by Textile Conservator Virginia Whelan and Jim Taub, Associate Curator at the Museum of the American Revolution (MOAR). Here you’ll discover the profound historical significance of Revolutionary War flags, some of which are reunited for the first time since battle. Explore the evolution of their designs, which symbolize the unification of diverse groups, and delve into the intricate construction techniques employed. This special behind-the-scenes tour emphasizes the exhibition’s unique narrative, highlighting the role of textiles in the American Revolution. A highlight will be a visit to the Museum’s centerpiece, George Washington’s tent, ‘The First Oval Office,’ expertly conserved by Whelan, complemented by a 15-minute film about the restored Revolutionary War-era tent.
Continue your immersive experience at The Fabric Workshop and Museum (FWM), a leading contemporary art space dedicated to collaborative experimentation in textile-based art. Your visit begins with a guided tour of ‘Soft/Cover’, an exhibition that examines how artists use fabric and screenprinting to create works connected to the body, drawing from fashion, architecture, and performance. Featuring rarely seen pieces from FWM’s collection alongside new commissions, the show reflects the evolution of artistic practice through FWM’s collaborative studio model. Next, explore FWM’s unique Artist Boxes archival collections documenting each residency. These 6.5 x 31 x 19 inch curated boxes include prototypes, swatches, correspondence, and visual materials, offering an intimate look at each artist’s process.
The program concludes with an exclusive behind-the-scenes studio visit with current artists-in-residence Adebunmi Gbadebo. You’ll gain firsthand insight into their artistic process and the ways FWM’s collaborative model supports innovation. A light reception will follow, providing time to connect with fellow participants and reflect on the day’s discoveries.
Itinerary
9 – 9:15 AM – Meet at Museum of the American Revolution, 101 S 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106*
9:30 AM – Special Presentation in Banners of Liberty: Exclusive guided visit through Banners of Liberty: An Exhibition of Original Revolutionary War Flags exhibition led by Textile Conservator Gina Whelan and Jim Taub, Associate Curator at the Museum of the American Revolution.
11:00 AM – Washington’s War Tent film: Includes viewing George Washington’s tent, “The First Oval Office,” and a 15-minute film.
11:20 AM – Self-Guide through galleries: View other exhibitions independently, if you wish.
11:30 AM – 1 PM – Lunch
1 – 1:15 PM – Meet at The Fabric Workshop and Museum, 1214 Arch St , Philadelphia, PA 19107*
1:30 PM – Self-guided: Experience Soft/Cover, an exhibition featuring rarely seen works from the FWM collection alongside new commissions.
2:00 PM – Archive Artist Boxes: Explore FMW’s collection of archived artist boxes that showcase the process of designing and producing artist editions, highlighting the work of artists Kara Walker, Sonya Clark (TSA Fellow), Rose b. Simpson, Faith Ringgold, and Shahzia Sikander.
3:00 PM – Special Artist Talk: Behind-the-Scenes Studio Visit and Talk with artists-in-residence Adebunmi Gbadebo.
3:30 PM – Networking & Reception: Network and connect, includes light refreshments.
Program Hosts
Virginia Jarvis Whelan is a Philadelphia-based textile conservator in private practice. She has conserved a range of textiles including George Washington’s Revolutionary War tent and many Revolutionary War flags now on exhibit at MoAR. She received her BA from University of Pennsylvania (1978) and MS in Art Conservation from Winterthur/ University of Delaware Program (1997). She is a member of the Art Conservators Alliance and is a Fellow of AIC.
James Taub is the Associate Curator at the Museum of the American Revolution. As a public historian, he focuses on French and American military history from 1750 to 1945. He served as the lead curator for the Museum’s special exhibition, Banners of Liberty. Jim received his BA from Dickinson College (2015) and his MLitt from the University of Glasgow (2018).
The Fabric Workshop and Museum (FWM), founded in 1977 by Marion “Kippy” Boulton Stroud, is a leading contemporary art museum known for its innovative Artist-in-Residence Program. This program supports artists at all stages of their careers in experimenting with new materials and media, encouraging bold, interdisciplinary work across sculpture, painting, video, ceramics, and more. Originally focused on fabric, FWM has since expanded its scope while maintaining a deep commitment to process, collaboration, and education.
FWM’s on-site studios (open by appointment) allow visitors to witness art-making from concept to completion. Its collection includes not only finished works but also prototypes, research, and documentation that trace the evolution of each project. Through exhibitions, public programs, and educational initiatives—especially for Philadelphia youth—FWM advances access to contemporary art and fosters creative exploration as a catalyst for innovation and social connection.
Adebunmi Gbadebo (Ah-dae-bu-mee Bha-dae-bo) the Fabric Workshop and Museum (FWM) Artist-in-Residence, is a multidisciplinary artist working across paper, ceramics, sound, and film to explore her family’s lineage from Nigeria through the legacy of enslavement in America. Centering the True Blue plantation in South Carolina, where her maternal ancestors were enslaved, Gbadebo gathers materials like soil, water, cotton, and archival records directly from the site, incorporating them into her artwork to reclaim Black subjectivity and challenge the biases of historical archives.
Her process blends experimental techniques with cultural memory: crafting paper from donated hair and river water using traditional couching methods, and shaping clay from excavated burial ground soil by hand or with machines that evoke both ancestral methods and industrialized labor under slavery. Each piece becomes both a vessel and a memorial, holding personal and collective histories. Through this deeply rooted practice, Gbadebo reconstructs her family’s fragmented story, transforming inherited trauma into powerful expressions of presence, resistance, and ancestral honor.
Registration Fees
- TSA Member Early Bird: $165 (until June 10, 2025)
- TSA Members: $185
- Non-Members: $200
- TSA Member Students: $100
The registration fee includes admission to MOAR, FWM, and end of day reception. The fee does not include lunch, transportation, or parking expenses.
Limited to 40 people.
Image description: Two people standing in an art gallery looking at fiber artworks including three umbrellas hanging from an armature as well two long coats on various support systems and one colorful, pictorial quilt and one high relief quilt on the wall.
Image: Image courtesy of the Fabric Workshop and Museum, used with permission.
