Maryland Historical Society to launch year-long display of quilts by Mimi Dietrich ’70, American studies

When Mimi Dietrich sews, the corners of her mouth form a soft, confident smile as she pieces together scraps of the colorful fabric in her lap. On the walls of her Catonsville home hang years of quilting work made during moments like this – intricate swirls and complex geometries of color and texture – that tell her stories and the stories of her hometown, Baltimore.

On the middle finger of her right hand, she wears a tiny silver thimble in the shape of a bee – an apt companion for a woman who for more than 30 years has taught thousands of students and written 17 books about her art, garnering national audiences and acclaim. And the buzz about her quilting continues to grow just as fast as she can stitch.

This March 23, in celebration of Maryland Day, the Maryland Historical Society will launch a year-long retrospective of Dietrich’s work at its Baltimore headquarters. Titled “Hometown Girl,” the show dives deep into her decades-long quilting career, with an emphasis on her Baltimore album quilts, a style of appliqué quilt made popular in the 1840s and 1850s.

“To me, it’s just so unbelievable,” says Dietrich ‘70, American studies, who in 2013 was named Teacher of the Year by the International Association of Professional Quilters and in 2015 was inducted into the Quilters Hall of Fame. “I’m just so excited.”

INTERPRETING HISTORY

Among Dietrich’s works to be shown are an array of scenes that peek into modern and historic Baltimore life. Some of the more traditional quilts feature baskets, wreaths, and flowers popular to the album quilt style. Yet others push the limits a bit more. Her 1981 Baltimore: Through a Glass Brightly features a rainbow gradient skyline, complete with the Bromo Seltzer tower, the Constellation, the Baltimore Shot Tower, and other buildings framed by the state flower, the Black-Eyed Susan.

In another, Baltimore Hon, from 2012, a blonde with a beehive and cat-eye glasses peers from within a scene of flowers, crab cake – that is, a birthday cake with a freshly-steamed crab on top – and a flamingo garnished with shiny pink buttons and three-dimensional fluffy feathering. Beneath her feet, careful script declares: “There’s no place like home, Hon!”

Dietrich’s work was a natural fit for the Maryland Historical Society, where she has volunteered in various capacities over the years.

“Mimi is … one of the finest quilters in the state as well as the nation, and, to me, her work embodies MdHS’s mission to interpret the history of Maryland. She loves Maryland, particularly Baltimore, and stitches that love metaphorically and aesthetically into the quilts she creates,” says Alexandra Deutsch, vice president of Collections and Interpretation at the Maryland Historical Society.

“Her legacy as a teacher is also extraordinary. For more than 30 years, she has been sharing her knowledge, skill, and passion for appliqué with hundreds of quilters from novice to expert.”

LEARNING AND TEACHING

Dietrich made her first quilt in 1974, when she and two friends were pregnant with their first children. (She wound up making a sweet quilt of blue and yellow.)

“I’ve always loved sewing, and I figured if I could sew, I could quilt,” she said. And it was true. As the nation caught Bicentennial fever, the preponderance of flag and celebration imagery – as well as interest in national history – took root in her own work. As she learned to quilt with friends, she quickly became a local expert in the traditional (and Charm City originating) album quilt style.

In 1983, she and fellow alumna Laurie Griffith Gregg ‘95, visual and performing arts, formed their first guild, The Village Quilters. The group, which has grown to more than 120 members, still meets today, bringing artist speakers, antiques dealers, and fellowship to the area’s quilting enthusiasts. They also volunteer their time regularly to groups like the Linus Project and Quilts of Valor, which make quilts for babies and veterans, respectively.

Dietrich has also built a professional life around her art, teaching classes regularly in Maryland and around the world while building a loyal following for her popular instructional books. As a teacher, she’s known for her creative spirit and generosity.

“Mimi wants her students to have fun while learning to quilt,” said Gregg, who met Dietrich in 1972 when they were both working at the former Stretch “n” Sew Fabrics in Catonsville. “She shares everything she knows with her students, while encouraging them to ‘do your own thing.’ … She has a large following of loyal appliqué quilters. Every student in her class, actually every person she meets, considers Mimi their friend. Mimi is as friendly and down to earth as she was at the very beginning of her quilting journey.”

RETRIEVER ROOTS

Considering the tight community she has built among fellow quilters, it’s no surprise that Dietrich also maintains close ties to her alma mater. She and her husband Bob Dietrich ’70, biological sciences, serve as consistent volunteers, leaders, and athletic supporters. Stanyell Odom, director of UMBC’s Office of Alumni Engagement, shared Dietrich’s excitement about her upcoming show.

“I am so happy for her. Mimi has been a dedicated alumni leader for decades,” says Odom. “From her leadership as a founding member of the Fab Four [graduates of the first four classes], to her avid volunteerism for many years with the Alumni Association Board of Directors, to her role in leading up several initiatives in celebration of UMBC’s 25th and 50th anniversaries, Mimi has demonstrated her love and commitment to UMBC.”

In 2018, the Alumni Association recognized Dietrich with the Distinguished Service Award at the 30th Anniversary Alumni Awards. “It was wonderful to celebrate her many contributions to the UMBC community,” says Odom.

As for her successes and her upcoming show, Dietrich is excited but humble. Her friends, however, crow about her whenever they can. Gregg, for one, can’t wait for the world to see Dietrich’s work on display.

“It’s about time!” says Gregg. “Seriously, no one deserves this more than Mimi. She is a very proud Baltimorean. Mimi’s love for her hometown is expressed in her quilts… I’m thrilled that so many people will have the opportunity to see her exhibition.”

* * * * *

“Hometown Girl: Contemporary Quilts of Mimi Dietrich,” opens March 23, 2019, at the Maryland Historical Society, 201 West Monument St., Baltimore. A reception for Dietrich’s year-long exhibit will be held Saturday, March 23, 2019, 2-5 p.m. For more information, visit the Maryland Historical Society.

Images by Marlayna Demond ’11 for UMBC Magazine unless otherwise noted.

The season is over, the final buzzer has sounded and the last drop of sweat has fallen on the court. It started out as another game day for the Retrievers as they prepared to take on the Hartford Hawks in the America East Quarterfinals. UMBC started off the game ferociously attacking the defense of the Hawks. The team shot 50 percent from the field through the first five minutes. UMBC converted on a trio of three-pointers in the game to keep pressure on Hartford. UMBC looked poised for a potential upset until sophmore-forward Janee’a Summers committed her second foul forcing her to sit early in the first quarter.

With Summers getting an extended rest, the team began to falter. The Retrievers started turning the ball over at an alarming rate. In the second quarter alone, UMBC had 13 turnovers and only managed to score eight points, including a four minute scoring drought. Junior-guards Te’yJah Oliver and Dominika Skrocka were the only two plays to score in the quarter. The team as a whole shot 3-13 from the field. The Hawks made every offensive opportunity matter as they were able to pour in 20 points, including a buzzer-beating three by the Hawks that allowed them to take the lead 31-21 into the half.

If the Retrievers wanted to keep their season alive, they would have to limit their turnovers and get back to what made them a 6-0 team. While it is easier said than done, the Retrievers have a knack for pulling off the impossible and making people into believers. From the start of the third quarter, it seemed as if the Retrievers had gotten themselves together and played with the same tenacity that gave them the lead early in the game. Offensive charges were key in getting the Retrievers back in this game. The team went on a 5-1 run that cut the deficit to six. Not only did they get the turnovers down, but the defense was ramped up holding Hartford to 23 percent shooting from the field.

Summers and Oliver, as well as junior-guard Tyler Moore, put the team on their backs and carried them to an 18 point quarter, each scoring six apiece. After back-to-back layups, UMBC was within five before the Hawks went back to extend the lead. By the end of the third quarter the Retrievers were down by six points. In the opening minutes of the fourth quarter the Hawks went on a 6-0 run that pushed their lead back up to double digits. The Retrievers fought with everything in them to get back in the game, but could not combat against the number two ranked team Hartford. Summers and Oliver finished the game with 13 points respectively.

Now that we have come to the end of the season, there are so many things left unanswered: Who will be the next head coach for the Retrievers? Will the administration be cleaning house and looking for new assistant coaches as well? Will there be major shakeups on the roster, who will stay and who is jumping ship? The team has to be proud of what they were able to accomplish in this rollercoaster of a season. Not only did they have a UMBC-best 6-0 start, but they were also able to make it to the America East tournament under the direction of two head coaches. This offseason will be one for the books as the coaching carousel is underway and nobody knows what the results will be.

Every region has a sport that they identify with, from Spain and their love for soccer to Americans’ passion for football. For Maryland, the argument can be made that the sport the state identifies with the most is lacrosse. When you think of lacrosse, you may think of it as a prestigious sport. While it may be true that it is on the higher end of the bracket in terms of cost, the sport is beloved by thousands, and it continues to grow every day.

Lacrosse has talent all across the northeast, from New York to North Carolina, and even here in Maryland. Maryland has two major collegiate teams that are always in contention for a national title. Johns Hopkins and Maryland are two of the top tier lacrosse schools in the country, but one school that has been lost in the shuffle in recent years is UMBC. People seem to forget that UMBC was once a powerhouse lacrosse school in its own right.

The Retrievers were once perennial contenders to make it to the NCAA tournament through the mid-2000’s, including a 4 year span of Tournament appearances. From 2006 to 2009, you could find the Retrievers in the tournament, three of which came from winning the America East championship. Two of the Retriever’s own  attackmen, Brendan Mundorf and Drew Westervelt, thrived at the school and went on to star professionally and internationally as members of Team USA. During the 2007 season, UMBC upset against Maryland in the tournament before losing in the semifinals to North Carolina. In 2009 the team finished with a 12-4 record and gained entry to the NCAA tournament before a first round elimination by North Carolina. The Retrievers have failed to make the NCAA tournament since.

Nine of the last ten seasons have ended with a losing record. During this span, the Hartford Hawks and the Albany Great Danes began to assert themselves as real threats in the conference, recruiting nationally ranked players to change the landscape. In the lone season, where the team finished just above .500, UMBC made it to America East tournament, where they lost to University of Albany. Two years later, before the 2016 season, UMBC decided to go another path and fired former head coach Don Zimmerman in favor of current head coach Ryan Moran. In Moran’s first season, it was rough waters, as they could only muster up four wins.

The 2017 season had a more positive vibe to it as the Retrievers added two more wins to the season, going 6-8 under Moran. Four players from the 2017 season were named to America East All-Conference honors, three of which were on Second Team All-Conference, while the fourth made the All-Rookie Team. The 2018 season had its moments of excitement but still resulted in a losing season for the Retrievers. The team did manage to knock off the undefeated and number one ranked conference team in Albany. The team would go on a three-game winning streak and came within one game of making it back to the conference tournament but fell to Vermont in the final game of the season.

The 2019 season seemed to be a promising one for the Retrievers. They had revamped their roster with new freshman and even buffed up their coaching staff with the hire of volunteer assistant head coach Billy O’ Hara. Along with the help of returning upperclassmen and second-year starters, the team believed they could spark a new chapter for the UMBC lacrosse program. So far, the first month has been somewhat forgetful as they started the season 1-2. As the team enters the midpoint of March, they will have their first in-conference game facing Vermont. UMBC must get back to its identity as a defensive minded team and keep teams from scoring so easily. In the last two games, the team has given up 36 goals and only scored 26 of their own. If the Retrievers want to get back to who they once were and be considered a top team in the America East, they must play like every game is their last, and this starts Saturday on their own turf against Vermont.

URA’s provide up to $1,500 to undergraduate students to support their research or creative work with a UMBC faculty mentor on an original project. UMBC students of all years and disciplines are invited to apply, as long as they will remain enrolled at UMBC long enough to complete the proposed work.

As a mid-major school, UMBC is expected to draw mid-tier talent for their athletic programs. It is not often that a school of UMBC’s size is able to recruit one of the best talents in the nation. But, when it comes to the Retrievers’ softball team, it is possible that they may have one of the best pitchers, if not the best pitcher in the nation.

As unbelievable as it may sound, a first-year student could very well be number one in the nation by looking at the statistics.  The pitcher in question would be freshman-pitcher Courtney Coppersmith. As of Sunday, Coppersmith owned a 1.82 ERA in 50 innings pitched. During that time, she struck out 82 batters, earning 11.48 strikeouts per seven innings NCAA official stats were last updated on March 8, and had Coppersmith leading the nation in that category.

The impressive start by Coppersmith mirrors that of softball legend Jennie Finch. Coppersmith is a much better strikeout pitcher than Finch was her freshman year, as Finch struck out less than one batter per game. Currently, Coppersmith also has a lower ERA than Finch, who posted a 2.08 ERA in her freshman year. Coppersmith, who hails from York, PA graduated from Central York High School in the spring. She got her start in the sport by playing baseball with her twin brother, Bobby and eventually moved on to playing softball at the age of nine

On the field, Coppersmith was also extremely dominant in high school. She lead her team to qualifying for states for the first time in 12 years. She also pitched a no-hitter with 17 strikeouts during her senior season. She also wound up surpassing the 500 strikeout mark in her final year at York, which was a big milestone for her.

Her brother Bobby goes to York College, but he did not get the same athletic prowess as Courtney. “I’m the only athletic one in my family,” said Coppersmith. “Everyone in my family will admit that.” Coppersmith says that her siblings are “as far apart as you can get” as far as their ambitions. Her sister, Ciara is a senior art-history major at Moore College in Philadelphia. “She’s crazy good,” raved Coppersmith. “I can only draw stick figures.” Her brother is also involved in the arts, but “on the technical side” of theater.

However, Coppersmith is more geared towards the science side of academics, as she is majoring in biochemistry/microbiology. She has ambitions of eventually becoming a pharmacist or doing research in a hospital.

She is very involved on campus. “A lot of people call me crazy,” she recounted as she tried to remember the names of all of the clubs she is involved in. Currently she is a Merit Scholar, an Undergraduate Admission Ambassador, a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committe,  the Star Program, Pre-Pharmacy Society, Take Home UMBC program and the Retriever Project.

With all of her commitments, Coppersmith admits that it is hard to balance everything. Many of the clubs meet at the same times, but she is very grateful that they work with her to allow her to balance all of those commitments, and softball practices/games.

Other schools did make offers to Coppersmith. She visited multiple campuses, but eventually, she fell in love with UMBC. “It’s kind of like how most women are like when they find their wedding dress, they just know,” she recalled. “There’s just like, that feeling that makes them want to cry. But, I never cried.” She praised UMBC for the sense of community that it fosters, and also raved about the size of the campus: “It’s just big enough where you still walk a lot, but it’s not so big where you have to drive from class-to-class.” She continued, “I usually pass like five people I know, unlike a school [such as] Penn. State or Maryland [College Park].

So far, Coppersmith has really impressed in her short tenure at UMBC. “I’m very proud of what I’ve done so far,” she said. “I really give credit to my coach and my teammates, they’re always there behind me.” She made sure to give credit to freshman-catchers Logan Hawker and Anna Lonchar for helping her behind the plate.

However, not every start has been so great thus far for Coppersmith. Her worst game prior to her interview came against Leigh, where she gave up 4 earned runs in a complete game. She followed up that performance by coming into the game in relief during the second game of that double-header, and posting three perfect innings with 7 strikeouts. More recently, Coppersmith gave up a career-high 7 earned runs in just 3.2 innings. She bounced back by pitching a complete-game shutout the next day.

“Scary” was the word Coppersmith used to describe her success so far. Being near the top of the nation in multiple statistical categories is something that she hasn’t come to terms with yet. “I don’t even have words to really put to it,” she said nervously.  She made sure to give credit to all of her previous, and current coaches for getting her to where she is today. “You look back and you realize, oh that just happened, like … oh okay that doesn’t increase expectations at all,” she said sarcastically.

At the end of the day, Coppersmith just wants to get on to the next game. “Statistics are one thing, but actions are even more,” she affirmed. “I’d rather just play.”

One thing that has slipped under the radar for Coppersmith is her dancing. Through all of the success, it got lost in the shuffle, but ESPN announcers pointed it out in a game against NC State. Coppersmith apparently gets so in rhythm during the game, that she begins dancing after striking hitters out. “It’s fun, I have a good time with it,” she said.

While there is still much of her story to be written in such a young career, one thing is for sure: Coppersmith has a bright future ahead of her. From her impressive statistics to her strong commitment to academics to her dancing on the field, UMBC definitely has a superstar on their hands.