Narrative Threads: Community Quilting with Illinois Art Station and Community Partners

{ "name":"Narrative Threads: Community Quilting with Illinois Art Station and Community Partners", "description":"

Five years ago, in May 2019, Illinois Art Station embarked on a community quilt project to celebrate and commemorate the threads of resistance and persistence that are ever present in the fabric of our McLean County communities. This Narrative Threads project was made possible through partnership with the McLean County Museum of History, Prairie Pride Coalition, and other partners who hosted workshops and encouraged diverse participation and representation in the collaborative artmaking process.

It is safe to suggest that five years later, the words resilience and persistence have taken on new meanings for members of our local communities. And it is time that Illinois Art Station and its partners revisit the Narrative Threads project to share more stories through the textile arts and to stitch up this chapter of our communities’ history.

Illinois Art Station, the McLean County Museum of History, and Prairie Pride Coalition invite artists of all ages and skill sets to participate in four FREE public sewing sessions at Illinois Art Station (101 E. Vernon Ave. in Normal) and additional locations this spring/summer. Prior experience with textile arts is not required.

Dates and times reflect an earnest attempt to meet folks when and where they are:

Tuesday, May 14 from 5:30-7:00 at IAS
Saturday, May 18 from 3:00-4:30 at IAS
Saturday, June 8* from 10:00-1:00 at The Bistro
*June 8 is Worldwide Knit in Public Day. Participants will be invited to knit and crochet quilt elements, taking additional inspiration from the Lacombe Museum's Crochet a Rainbow project (Alberta, Canada). Sewing and embroidery will not be offered this day.
Saturday, June 22 from 2:00-4:00 at MCMH

There is no registration required. Participants are encouraged to bring a 14x14 inch square piece of fabric that has personal meaning to them. This fabric will be incorporated into the quilt and will not be returned to the individual. All other materials will be made available to participants to create their very own quilt square thanks in part to financial support from Prairie Pride Coalition and other material donations.

The finished quilt will be displayed at a time and location TBD before the end of 2024

Questions? or for more information, please contact the Illinois Art Station at info@illinoisartstation.org.

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