Forest Preserve District of Will County displaying 177 quilts depicting national parks
From June 17 through July 3, the Forest Preserve District of Will County will host upcoming “Inspired by the National Parks."
According to a news release from the district, this exhibition features 177 quilts highlighting 59 national parks. A "sneak preview" of some of the quilts will be held from noon to 4 p.m. June 16 in Channahon.
Jessica Prince, the district's education and outreach supervisor, recently took a few moments to elaborate on this exhibition via email with Herald-News features editor Denise M. Baran-Unland.
Baran-Unland: What is the backstory for such an elaborate exhibition?
Prince: Quilters Unlimited member and nature lover Donna DeSoto of Fairfax, Virginia spearheaded an effort in 2015 to create a quilt exhibition in honor of the National Park Service’s 2016 centennial celebration.
Baran-Unland: I understand the Forest Preserve District of Will County is the first to exhibit all 177 quilts in Illinois since the exhibit began touring in 2016. How did the district get involved?
Prince: I received an email from the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) about the book “Inspired by the National Parks, Their Landscapes and Wildlife in Fabric Perspectives.” NAI did a book review and it intrigued me.
I then looked at the website, www.npscentennialquilts.com, and realized that there was a traveling exhibit. It was a good fit, because the exhibit aligns with the Forest Preserve’s mission to conserve and promote an appreciation for open space as well as the District’s ongoing initiative to bring in temporary displays of this kind.
Plus, on a personal note, my mom is quilter and I appreciate the skill and artistry involved. It wasn’t long before I reached out to the exhibit coordinator Donna DeSoto.
Baran-Unland: Will non-quilters enjoy this event too? May children attend?
Prince: Non-quilters are most welcome. The exhibit is perfect for a variety of audiences, including nature lovers and supporters of the National Park Service. It’s really for anyone who has an appreciation for fabric art and/or our natural areas. Children are definitely welcome as well.
Baran-Unland: Where will they be displayed?
Prince: The quilts will be on view simultaneously at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon, Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville, Plum Creek Nature Center in Crete Township, and Sugar Creek Administration Center in Joliet.
Baran-Unland: What an undertaking – dividing them among four locations. How did you decide what to place where?
Prince: Some of the quilts were randomly assigned to visitor centers. Others were placed at the best location based on theme. For instance, Isle a la Cache Museum was a natural to get the Voyageurs National Park quilts because the museum celebrates the 18th-century French fur trade era.
The salamander quilt belonging to Canyonlands National Park will be housed at Plum Creek because of its salamander mascot, Spot. Quilts reflecting water features made sense for Four Rivers.
And the bison quilt associated with the Theodore Roosevelt National Park is at Sugar Creek because of its proximity to Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie's bison herd. Distribution also was based on facility size.
For instance, Isle a la Cache has the fewest quilts because it has the least amount of wall space. But they're all in sets of three, no park is split apart.
Baran-Unland: How large are these quilts?
Prince: The show features 177 quilts representing 59 national parks. Each park is depicted in three quilts: one 20-by-44-inch landscape, and two 20-by-20-inch flora and fauna creations.
Baran-Unland: What type of images do the quilts feature?
Prince: Because each quilt is entirely unique, many different images are featured throughout the collection. For example, there’s the coneflowers and bison of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, a waterfall and a grey wolf representing Yellowstone National Park, and the island night lizards and giant kelp of Channel Islands National Park.
Baran-Unland: Are quilts behind glass or may attendees touch them or take photographs?
Prince: The quilts are not behind glass, but visitors may not touch them. However, photos and video are allowed.
Baran-Unland: Will anyone be available to answer questions? Prince: Forest Preserve staff and docents who are local quilters will be available during exhibition hours to share their wisdom and their excitement as it relates to the exhibit.
Baran-Unland: What else people should know?
Prince: This is the first time and, most likely the only time, all 177 quilts will be on display in Illinois.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: “Inspired by the National Parks” quilt exhibition
WHEN: June 17 through July 3
WHERE Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, Channahon; Isle a la Cache Museum, Romeoville; Plum Creek Nature Center, Crete Township; and Sugar Creek Administration Center, Joliet.
ETC: Exhibition hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. Note: Four Rivers will be closed on Saturdays due to previous bookings.
INFORMATION: Visit www.npscentennialquilts.com or www.reconnectwithnature.org.
KNOW MORE
• The public can get a sneak preview of a portion of the quilts during the “Arts & Nature on the River” event from noon to 4 p.m., June 16, at the Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon. This will be the only Saturday viewing at this location.
• A presentation titled “100 Years of Your National Parks” by Kip Walton, a park ranger at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, is scheduled for 7 p.m. June 29, at Sugar Creek Administration Center in Joliet. Registration is not required.
• Pick up a Quilt Quest punch card at one of the visitor centers. Get all four visitors center stamps and choose one of three rewards.
• The book “Inspired by the National Parks, Their Landscapes and Wildlife in Fabric Perspectives” will be available for purchase for $30 while inventories last at three of the Forest Preserve’s visitor centers: Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville, Plum Creek Nature Center in Crete Township and Sugar Creek Administration Center in Joliet.