From the press release:
Who: Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center and Blue Ridge National Heritage Area.
What: Traveling Exhibit of Parkway 75th Commemorative Community Quilt
When: Opening celebration March 17, 1 to 3 pm.
Where: Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center, Milepost 384, Asheville.
Why: Celebrating Parkway Communities
Cost: Free event
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a visit to one of the “greenest” buildings in our region, the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center, where the beautiful Commemorative Community Quilt created for the Parkway’s 75th Anniversary will go on exhibit starting March 17.
This is also National Quilting Day, and master quilter Pattiy Torno, who appears in the movie that is shown in the building, will be demonstrating her remarkable skills. Another treat will be a performance by Ben Seymour, a PolkCounty musician and custom instrument maker. Both will be on site between 1 – 3 pm.
Throughout history, quilt-making has been viewed as a community-building activity as well as a form of communal creativity. The Blue Ridge Parkway Commemorative Community Quilt Project, created on the occasion of the Parkway’s 75th Anniversary, provides a visual and lasting reminder of the region’s relationship with the Parkway and how the Parkway inspires us all.
Looking at this unique work of art, its purpose becomes apparent. As each square portrays an individual community’s expression or identity, it inherently compliments adjacent squares, all of which are bound together by threads of community. Greater awareness of these relationships and continued understanding and collaboration is its message of hope for our region.
The quilt has already traveled to numerous locations in North Carolina and Virginia and will be on display in the ParkwayVisitorCenter through April 25. The VisitorCenter is located on the Parkway near Milepost 384.
More quilts are on exhibit in two other locations on the Parkway, the Folk Art Center, located two miles north of the VisitorCenter, and the NC Arboretum, located south of the VisitorCenter at Milepost 393.6.
The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, designated by Congress and the President in November, 2003, works to protect, preserve, interpret, and develop the unique natural, historical, and cultural resources of Western North Carolina for the benefit of present and future generations, and in so doing to stimulate improved economic opportunity in the region. National Heritage Areas are locally-governed institutions that encourage residents, non-profit groups, government agencies, and private partners to work together in planning and implementing programs that preserve and celebrate America’s defining landscapes.
The views and conclusions contained in this news release are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.