Art Projects Honor Agricultural Roots and Quilting Legacy
agricultural roots, art projects, clintonville road, culture, quilting, winchester-clark,
Once the top hemp producer in the world and a major producer of burley tobacco and bluegrass seed‚ rural Clark County has fewer working farms these days.
But the Winchester-Clark County Tourism Commission‚ the Clark County Soil Conservation office and numerous community groups hope to emphasize the region’s agricultural heritage – and highlight the artistic legacy of quilting – by using painted quilt squares as public art.
The Clothesline of Quilts project‚ a grassroots effort started in Ohio several years ago‚ has made its way to the Bluegrass Region‚ giving new purpose to historic tobacco barns.
Not your grandmother’s quilt squares – although they may be based on her designs – these huge patterns are painted on wood panels and hung on area barns. Visible from local roadways‚ the 8-by-8-foot quilt-square replicas call attention to the area’s rich history.
Nancy Allen Turner‚ director of the Winchester-Clark County Tourism Com mission‚ says her family has worked in agriculture here for nine generations. “I was going to do a turkey-trot pattern (on a panel) because we used to raise turkeys‚ but when I asked my aunt if she had any old quilts‚ she had a bunch.
The one I chose was initialed by my great-grand mother‚ who I never knew‚” Turner says.
Many people don’t realize how much a part of the local economy and culture tobacco farming has been‚ she says‚ and using the old tobacco barns to display the quilt squares provides an opportunity to learn about the area’s agricultural history while honoring the artistic legacy of quilting.
The whole community has gotten behind this project‚ with the high school art department‚ the Clark County Quilters‚ individuals and local organizations partic ipating. A dozen quilt squares are already up‚ with as many in the works.
Travelers interested in following the quilt trail can go to the tourism com mission’s Web site (tourwinchester.com) and download a map showing where squares have been hung to date. The site includes information related to the project‚ such as the names and origins of quilt patterns‚ the owners and history of the original quilts‚ and the history of properties and buildings where quilt squares are displayed.
Turner says the quilt project shows community pride.
“Such a simple thing makes such a big impact‚” she says. “It’s like a free little present when you’re driving down the road. From the small roads to the main highways‚ it gives a feel for who we are and what we have been.”
Story by Carol Cowan
Photo by Brian McCord
