The earliest evidence of quilt-making, discovered in a 5,000-year-old Egyptian temple, shows that humans have been stitching material together for clothing, bedding, wall hangings, table cloths, and other uses since the dawn of civilization. The art of quilt patterns is seen throughout Missouri. You’ll find it on barns as a way to honor a family member. Maybe you have been handed down an heirloom of your grandmother’s hand-made quilt. Or, perhaps, you are a quilter, who created a beautiful quilt that was raffled off as a fundraiser for your church. The art of quilt-making is very much a patchwork of who we are and the talents we share. It is part of Missouri’s culture, fashion, and tradition.
To commemorate 200 years of statehood, a special Missouri Bicentennial Quilt has been created representing all of Missouri’s 114 counties and the City of St. Louis. As it travels across the state, the quilt is a showcase of the unique characteristics of Missouri culture and style. Other specially-made quilts, created by Missouri 4-H, Missouri State Parks, and several counties, are on display in recognition of Missouri’s 200th birthday.
Our panel shares their insights on the art and culture of quilt-making and talks about the special quilts created by Missourians for the bicentennial.
About the Presenter
Courtenay Hughes
Courtenay Hughes, In Town education manager at Missouri Star Quilt Company talks about their partnership with the State Historical Society of Missouri and the role of Missouri State Quilters Guild in the creation of the Missouri Bicentennial Quilt.
Michael Sweeney
Michael Sweeney, Missouri Bicentennial Coordinator, takes us back to the creation of the Missouri Bicentennial Quilt and discusses where it is traveling and on display in Missouri communities during 2021.
Elaine Campbell
Elaine Campbell, president of Community Betterment and Arts Council of Houston, describes how the Texas County Quilt became a collaborative project with the Restorative Justice quilters at a local correctional center as well as the Texas County, at-large.
Connie Weber
Connie Weber, Naturalist-Resource Interpreter at Echo Bluff State Park, tells us more about the meaningful blocks she created for the Missouri State Park Quilt, sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
Joni Bramon
Joni Bramon, artist and physician, discusses the design and process of creating barn quilts inspired by traditional quilts. Her quilts have hung in rural and urban environments from Arizona to the east coast. Most of her barn quilts can be seen in mid-Missouri where Bramon practices family medicine.