The Textile Museum Tribute Dinner and George Hewitt Myers Award 2006

The Textile Museum staff, members and friends were saddened to learn of the passing of Josephine Powell on January 19, 2007 at her home in Istanbul, Turkey.

Ms. Powell, an internationally renowned ethnographer, photographer and expert on nomadic weaving traditions in Turkey, was honored with The Textile Museum's George Hewitt Myers Award in October 2006. Named for The Textile Museum's founder, the award for lifetime achievement recognized her exceptional contributions to the study and understanding of the textile arts.

Upon receiving the news of her death, Museum Director Daniel Walker remarked, "We mourn the passing of this remarkable person and feel incredible gratitude that she had such a rich and full life, and that we were able to share with her our profound appreciation for her life's work through the presentation of the George Hewitt Myers Award this past October. We are also grateful that we have Andrew Finkel's wonderful interview of Josephine in video form, a portion of which was shown at the October event, to remind us of her keen intelligence, humanity and twinkling eye."

To read an article about Josephine Powell, excerpted from Cornucopia Magazine, No. 3 and published recently in Today's Zaman, click here.

To read a column written by Andrew Finkel and published recently in Today's Zaman, click here.

Click here to see images from the 2006 Tribute Dinner.

Josephine Powell identified this as her favorite photograph of herself.
Photo by Dr. Harald Böhmer.

Honoree Josephine Powell accepts the George Hewitt Myers Award from Board President Bruce P. Baganz. Photo by Bill Petros.

Donna Sommer, Honoree Josephine Powell, Trustee John Sommer, and Advisory Council Member Susan Ingham.

The Textile Museum Director Daniel Walker with Arthur Houghton, III.

Museum Trustee Ezra Mager, Reeva Mager, Museum Trustee Bevis Longstreth, and Clara Longstreth.

Advisory Council Member Beverly Maloof, acclaimed furniture craftsman Sam Maloof, and Advisory Council Member Paul Ramsey.

Anne Mehringer, Terry Beaty, Anthony Walker, Artistic Director of Washington Concert Opera, Penny Mills, Sydney-based opera singer.

Museum Trustee Fred Ingham and London-based art dealer Michael Franses.

Bruce P. Baganz, President of the Museum's Board of Trustees, and Museum Trustee Ezra Mager.

The George Hewitt Myers Award for Josephine Powell.

The Textile Director Daniel Walker and New York Times art critic Rita Reif.

H.E. The Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey and Selen Ucak, president of the American-Turkish Society.

Museum Trustee Bevis Longstreth, Sylvia Bergstrom, and Museum Trustee Ezra Mager.

Mrs. Nabi Sensoy, H.E. The Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey, and Honoree Josephine Powell (front), The Textile Museum Director
Daniel Walker (back right).

H.E. The Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey and Museum Advisory Council member Louise Shelley.

Advisory Council member Beverly Maloof, acclaimed furniture craftsman Sam Maloof, and Sylvia Bergstrom.

Diane and Wendel Swan, Museum Trustee.

Museum Trustee Emeritus Joan Shorey.

The Textile Museum Director Daniel Walker welcomed guests to the event.

Advisory Council member Sheridan Collins, Museum Trustee Rod DeArment, and Ann Marie DeArment.

The entrace to the ballroom was decorated like a souk, or open-air market.

Charles Lave, professor of Economics at University of California-Irvine, provided a personal reflection on Josephine Powell.

Charles Lave, professor of Economics at Univeristy of California-Irvine, with The Textile Museum's logo in background.

Board President Bruce P. Baganz and Honoree Josephine Powell.

H.E. The Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey, Mrs. Nabi Sensoy, and Honoree Josephine Powell (left). Professor Nurhan Atasoy and Museum Director Daniel Walker (right).

Honoree Josephine Powell accepts the George Hewitt Myers Award from Board President Bruce P. Baganz.

Molly McMullen and Maria T. O'Leary. Guests received gift bags donated to the Museum by Neiman Marcus.

The Plaza Ballroom of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Washington, DC.

Emilie de Brigard and Juanita Velasco, wearing the traditional dress of Nebaj, located in the western highlands of Guatemala.