Barn Quilts for the City...

   ...It is that time of year when the newest edition of the Farmer's Almanac hits the news stands.  One of my personal delights is to peruse the magazine for the weather prediction for the coming seasons.  I like to know what's coming and how I should prepare for the weather of the season.  Should I stock up on candles?  It helps both power shortages and to push away the gloom of overcast days with no bright sunlight during the winter months.  I already know that I should have plenty of Holy Basil on hand to help with SADD.  Another treat I enjoy from the almanac is the other articles of oddball information included  in the magazine.  One such item was an article about barn quilts written by Marti Attoun.  (reference, Harris Farmer's Almanac, 2014 edition.)  Always interested in quilts and quilting, I have long thought about finding a way to bring the subject and art of quilts to the public attention here in the Akron area.  "We be city folk", as they say.  For many quilting is a country kind of thing, just not a hip kind of cool thing.  And yet, much like sunflowers, nobody doesn't like quilts.  The barn quilts came from an idea the Donna Sue Groves had to beautify old barns.  Receiving a grant from the Ohio Arts Council the project of painted quilt patterns came into reality.  The goal was to produce a self-guided tour through the county using the quilt patterns on local barns.  So, my next thought was, "Why can't we do this on other building throughout Summit County?"  Akron, as with all of Summit County, is rich in history.  The north side of Akron has been deemed to be the art district.  There is an exciting art renaissance movement growing in the downtown Akron area. What better way to bring more people to the Akron area than to have quilts offering a welcome to everyone.  Quilts represent welcome, nurturing, grass roots, art, and storytelling.  Quilting is an art form that is representative of the diversity of cultures melting together to create the essence of what it is to be American.  Displaying a quilt is as strong a symbol of being an American as is flying the American flag.  It is this mindset that has encouraged me to pursue this project for Summit County.  The day may soon come when I call out there for volunteers to help paint some of these quilt panels to be displayed.
      So, as the days and nights grow chillier here in Ohio, be sure to bring your quilts out of storage and cuddle up underneath them.  Stir up the good memories from your childhood and think about who made that quilt if it came from your family.  Or, if your quilt has no history, consider making your own quilt.  Record your own family history in cloth, and leave a wonderful nurturing legacy for your family...