When her childhood quilts became worn with age, fabric chronicler Dorothy Montgomery of Charleston was given a bit of advice from her mother: Learn to quilt.

Montgomery had been carrying her quilts everywhere with her.

"Over the years, they started wearing, fading, and there was no one else to quilt for me," she said.

Heeding her mother's advice, Montgomery, who was born and raised in Orangeburg, took a class by Charleston master quilter Nora Williams and began reading books on the craft. However, her interest in quilt repair quickly became a fascination with sharing with the world the story of African American music's influence.

From that humble introduction to the quilting world comes a photographic exhibit of more than 20 original quilts depicting stories of African American music now on display at Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center's Lusty Gallery through March 9.

"It is my desire that my works will spark or renew an interest in the history and creative artistry of African Americans and help others realize their own potential and possibilities," Montgomery posts on her Web site, www.legacyoftwelve.com. The site is named for the 12 notes in music's chromatic scale.

Since 2001, she has crafted 40 quilts, each using a variety of mediums including fabric and acrylic paints, ink, crayons, embroidery floss, dye sticks and appliques to create her colorful masterpieces. The quilts provide illustrations for Montgomery's songs, poems, stories and essays about music created, adapted and influenced by African Americans.

Montgomery, a former classroom and music teacher, holds a bachelor's degree in music education from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, a master's degree in music education from the University of Georgia, a master's in special education and learning disabilities from the College of Charleston and an associate's degree in radio and television technology from Trident Technical College.

"They call me a professional student," she said with a laugh. But it is that love of learning and music that Montgomery said she hopes to pass on to generations to come through her writing and quilts.

Montgomery is also the author of "A Legacy of Twelve: Notes from a Musical Scale Create Many Styles of Music," a collection of her writings interwoven with photos of several of her hand-sewn quilts. One of her quilts is on display at the U.S. Embassy in Sierra Leone.

Classifying herself as a storyteller, Montgomery said she visits schools, churches and libraries, sharing stories of her quilts and the inspiration behind them. She has shared her presentation with the young and old alike, involving them in a hands-on activity each time.

"When they see the large quilts, it amazes them," Montgomery said. "What better way to remind people that there are various styles of music. Each quilt has a story.

"It's a learning experience, and hopefully it will be lasting."

A half-dozen of Montgomery's quilts will be on display at a Meet-the-Artist reception Thursday, Feb. 1, from 6-8 p.m. in Lusty Gallery. Montgomery will present a program at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center is open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., and Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 803-536-4074.

T&D Staff Writer Wendy Jeffcoat Crider can be reached by e-mail at wjeffcoat@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5546. Discuss this and other stories on-line at TheTandD.com.

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