Barbara Rothermel, professor of Art History and Director of the Daura Gallery at Lynchburg College, will discuss American Folk Art quilts in Suffolk on Thursday, Sept. 5.

Rothermel’s lecture, &uot;American Folk Art Quilts: An Introduction,&uot; will be presented at 7 p.m. at the Suffolk Museum, 118 Bosley Ave.

The lecture is free and open to the public and is sponsored locally by the Suffolk Art League and the Suffolk Quilters Guild and is being held in conjunction with the Guild’s triennial exhibition &uot;Heirlooms of Tomorrow&uot;

Rothermel will examine 19th century folk art quilts, explaining how they performed both functional and decorative purposes.

Made by women, these quilts expressed their creativity within the home and brought a spiritual and aesthetic sustenance to themselves, their families, and their communities.

Rothermel holds a bachelor’s degree from Hood College, Maryland and a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma.

This program has been organized by the Office of Statewide Partnerships of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond.

For additional information, telephone the Suffolk Art League at 925-0448 or the Suffolk Museum at 923-2371.