The Capital ran a front page article on the quilt and the quilting sessions today. The link is below. There is a slideshow with Dr. Gaither narrating from the quilt journal as well.
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/01_17-17/LIF
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Quilting Sessions
The public quilting sessions held this week at the Bates Legacy Center and the Banneker-Douglass Museum were an unbelievable experience for all involved. Over 200 people attended the two events aged 3 years and up. It was absolutely amazing to sit and watch people come together over this one artwork to add their messages of hope, peace, and goodwill while sharing their stories and talking with their neighbors. People of all quilting experiences added to the quilt, some adding messages while others added stitches to help hold it together. I personally can 
say that I have never quilted, however even I found time to add some stitches to the quilt on Wednesday afternoon. This was quite an experience as I generally tend to shy away from actually participating in the projects of the programs I plan so that I am free to help others.
Some of my favorite memories over the last few days have been random moments occurring unexpectedly. From the reporter from the Capital being "forced" into quilting while he was taking photos and then seeing him turn his work camera over to one of our volunteers to take his picture to seeing Dr. Gaither laying across the quilt at Bates while stitching in the center to seeing the endless stream of people and Dr. Gaither's constant desire and delight in greeting the new guests and the light in her eyes while talking about the quilt. The events were capped off with several people pitching in to help hang the quilt. Chills went down several spines and goosebumps appeared on many arms as the quilt was unfurled and raised along the museum's wall.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the quilting programs. If you didn't get a chance to come add a stitch you can still see the quilt. It is now on display at the Banneker-Douglass Museum where it will remain until the end of February. We will post new information about new education features we will be adding to the quilt in the next few weeks.
say that I have never quilted, however even I found time to add some stitches to the quilt on Wednesday afternoon. This was quite an experience as I generally tend to shy away from actually participating in the projects of the programs I plan so that I am free to help others.Some of my favorite memories over the last few days have been random moments occurring unexpectedly. From the reporter from the Capital being "forced" into quilting while he was taking photos and then seeing him turn his work camera over to one of our volunteers to take his picture to seeing Dr. Gaither laying across the quilt at Bates while stitching in the center to seeing the endless stream of people and Dr. Gaither's constant desire and delight in greeting the new guests and the light in her eyes while talking about the quilt. The events were capped off with several people pitching in to help hang the quilt. Chills went down several spines and goosebumps appeared on many arms as the quilt was unfurled and raised along the museum's wall.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the quilting programs. If you didn't get a chance to come add a stitch you can still see the quilt. It is now on display at the Banneker-Douglass Museum where it will remain until the end of February. We will post new information about new education features we will be adding to the quilt in the next few weeks.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
The Quilt in the Classroom
Today the Journey to the White House quilt received several new stitches from 3rd and 5th graders from Midtown Academy in Baltimore. The students from Midtown Academy held a mock election in the days leading up to the presidential election in which they elected Barack Obama as president by a landslide. Mr. Charlie Greenawault, a Maryland Institute College of Art alum and teacher at the Midtown Academy, brought several students to see the quilt and add messages about what the quilt means to them.
Dr. Gaither asked them to think about words that are important to them and add them to the quilt as messages for all who see the quilt. Among the many messages and images that were added as the word "hope." This word has become a very popular theme in the quilt and serves as a great message for the overall meaning of the project. Other messages included "unity," "work together," and "beautiful time for freedom."
Students were asked to write about their experience in a journal which accompanies the quilt as well as post messages here on the blog. Students included several different types of entries including personal statements and poetry. You can see some of their postings to the blog by scrolling down to the blog entry entitled "Message from Dr. Joan Gaither."
Don't forget, there are two more opportunities to add your stitches to the Journey to the White House quilt. Wednesday, January 14 the quilt will be at the Wiley Bates Legacy Center in Annapolis from 2-6 p.m. On Saturday, January 17, a quilting session will be held at the Banneker-Douglass Museum in Annapolis from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. before going on display at 2:00 p.m.
Dr. Gaither asked them to think about words that are important to them and add them to the quilt as messages for all who see the quilt. Among the many messages and images that were added as the word "hope." This word has become a very popular theme in the quilt and serves as a great message for the overall meaning of the project. Other messages included "unity," "work together," and "beautiful time for freedom."
Students were asked to write about their experience in a journal which accompanies the quilt as well as post messages here on the blog. Students included several different types of entries including personal statements and poetry. You can see some of their postings to the blog by scrolling down to the blog entry entitled "Message from Dr. Joan Gaither."
Don't forget, there are two more opportunities to add your stitches to the Journey to the White House quilt. Wednesday, January 14 the quilt will be at the Wiley Bates Legacy Center in Annapolis from 2-6 p.m. On Saturday, January 17, a quilting session will be held at the Banneker-Douglass Museum in Annapolis from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. before going on display at 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Add your own stitches to the quilt!
As part of the Journey to the White House story quilt, Dr. Gaither is inviting members of the public to take part in the creation of the quilt by adding their own stitches. The public is invited to take part in two quilting sessions before the work goes on display at the Banneker-Douglass Museum. Prior quilting and sewing experience are not required. Both events are free of charge. Participants will be invited to share their experiences in a guest book at the event or to post them to the Quilting the Journey to the White House blog. Dates and times are listed below.
Quilting Program Locations
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
2:00 p.m. -- 6:00 p.m.
Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center
1101 Smithville St.
Annapolis, MD 21401
Saturday, January 17, 2009
10:00 a.m. – 1:00p.m.
Banneker-Douglass Museum
84 Franklin St.
Annapolis, MD 21401
For more information, please contact Genevieve Kaplan, Administrator of Education at the Banneker-Douglass Museum. Ms. Kaplan can be reached by telephone at 410.216.6186 or by email at GKaplan@goci.state.md.us.
Quilting Program Locations
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
2:00 p.m. -- 6:00 p.m.
Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center
1101 Smithville St.
Annapolis, MD 21401
Saturday, January 17, 2009
10:00 a.m. – 1:00p.m.
Banneker-Douglass Museum
84 Franklin St.
Annapolis, MD 21401
For more information, please contact Genevieve Kaplan, Administrator of Education at the Banneker-Douglass Museum. Ms. Kaplan can be reached by telephone at 410.216.6186 or by email at GKaplan@goci.state.md.us.
Message from Dr. Joan Gaither
Thank you to my community. You have touched my heart and my spirit with the reflections written in the "Journey to the White House Quilt" Guest Book and recorded in this blog site. John Berger, in "Ways of Seeing," comments, "The way we see things is affected by what we believe." On Friday [12/19/2008] , the word hope was added to the quilt by 8 different people. Another stitched a chalice in golden threads that outlined the words faith and hope which had been added by a previous quilter, a senior mom who happened to be visiting from Chicago. Still another took the time to write poetry in the guest book linking the present with the past, and the energy of the quilt with a running awareness and a connectedness to a generation not yet born. Thank you, students of this generation who let me know joy as you become a part of the quilts journey. Everyone who participated sees and believes in a brighter future - connectedness, progress, coming together. Student PG wrote about viewing Obama's victory speech on the street with neighbors when suddenly the power was gone. "It was an image so beautiful, so reminiscent of what Obama has done for this country, of the realization that has come over all of us. The realization that overcame us, the happiness in the tears we cried that night, illuminated by only the street lights... and the sound of his voice... our future..." Thank you to those who took fabric squares to create a quilt square for the next part of the journey. JMEG
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
