Quilts of Celebration April 4, 2009

Tigard Public Library

Over thirty years ago many Oregonians, inspired by America’s Bicentennial, gathered together to stitch quilts that represented their counties and communities. The Tigard Public Library will host Stitched Patches: Quilts of Celebration on Saturday, April 4, at 1:30 p.m. Quilt historian, author and artist Mary Bywater Cross will examine the significance of quilts as visual metaphors for community and cultures.

Cross traces changes in quilt-making as she interprets Oregon-made quilts stitched for and after the Bicentennial. She hopes the quilt pieces and the stories behind them will stimulate reflection about what it means to be an Oregonian today.

As part of this unique program, Cross will work closely with local communities who want to design and create their own quilts to honor Oregon’s 2009 Sesquicentennial. The public is also invited to bring its “quilts of celebration” to share.

Stitched Patches is an Oregon Chautauqua program sponsored by the Oregon Council of the Humanities (OCH), which is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The organization is believes that knowledge and ideas are fundamental to the health of our communities. For information about OCH’s programs and publications, log onto www.oregonhum.org.

This free program will be held in the Library Community Room. For information, please call the Library at 503-684-6537 and request the Adult Reference Desk, or visit the Library’s Web page.