Permanent Collection

NAN has a Permanent Collection of contemporary (in the sense of this current time) needlework which is housed at the Gregg Museum of Art & Design at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. This is an ongoing and growing collection which began when NAN was part of the Valentine Museum in Richmond, VA. Click on any of the images below for a larger view and to step through a slide show. Scroll to the bottom of the page for more information about the Collection.

: Blue Opalescence by Mary Ellen Searcy

: Yei Bi Chei by Victoria Nessel

: Autumn Splendor by Anne Freiburger

: Creation Sampler by Joan Thomasson, 2009

: Flora Cristale by Susan Kerndt

: Essence of Santa Fe by Beverly Booker

: Tidal Treasures by Celeste Chalasani

: Marie de Medici by Joyce Lukomski

: Vacation Remembered by Julie Milne

: Stumpwork by Muriel Baker

: Seasons of the Sun by Gail Sirna

: Symbolic Crowns by Linda Calsing

: One Dove One Heart by Deborah Forney

: Wondrous Beast of Faerie II or Pegasus by Fay Andrews

: Silk Dragon by Susan Dawson

: Jacobean on Canvas by Mindy English

: On Gossamer Wings by Caela Tyler

: Vineyard Hillside by Lois Kershner

: Romance of Paisley by Gene Wright

: Bouquet of Flowers by Hope Jiminez

: The Dog Show by Kandace Merric

: Wine Wine Fruit of the Vine by Jennifer Riefenberg

: Narcissus Fan by Jean Taggart

: Garden Gate by Lizbeth Napier, 1997

: The Lily and the Lady Bug by Debbie Stiehler, 1996

: Tulip Time by Marsha Papay Gomola

The permanent collection includes pieces from several sources:

Original works created by candidates who are finishing their Teachers’ Certification. The NAN Board may, upon the recommendation of the Director and Assistant Director of Teachers’ Certification, decide to accession a candidate’s work. This is the highest honor bestowed on a NAN Teachers’ Certification candidate.
Original works created by those completing their Honors research. This is a five-year program of research at an advanced level, culminating with a written thesis, oral presentation, and a stitched piece that becomes part of the permanent collection.
Original works generously donated by previous members of NAN’s Board of Directors.
Special additions based on a decision of the Board of Directors. These are notable works of art, representing the best in needle art. These include a lace collection given by the late Mary McMenamin, and most recently, Detour, an original work by the late Genny Morrow.

A small, changing part of the permanent collection is on display at the Gregg Museum most of the time. The collection can be viewed in its entirety online:

Go to the Gregg Museum of Art & Design’s website https://gregg.arts.ncsu.edu/ and click on Collections. Select Search our online catalog.
On the page that comes up, enter “NAN Collection” or “Valentine” in the Collections Search box, then click on Search. A tabular display of works in the collection will appear along with information about each piece. Click on the small images to see a larger picture of each piece.