As I cruised along Route 20, enjoying the 2 lane highway's total lack of traffic and enjoying the gently rolling verdant ag countryside - I started seeing something pretty and amazing - great big quilt squares painted on barns! This gorgeous public art project seemed to be ubiquitous - nearly every barn in Hamilton County that I passed on Route 20 had something pretty painted on it.
Apparently the idea for Barn Quilts started in Adams County, Ohio in 2001 - it was a way to foster interest in an economically depressed part of Ohio - and the idea has now spread to other areas - including Iowa, Ohio,Tennessee, North Carolina and West Virginia and "Clothesline Quilts" in Appalachia.
According to the Hamilton County Barn Quilts Website:
"The Barn Quilts of Hamilton County Project began in 2005 after SEED Director Catherine Bergman and quilt shop owner Sara Harless spent several hours together attending a trade show. Seeing the impact the project has had on other areas of Iowa and the county, the two women knew that Hamilton County could benefit from the idea. From there, the phone calls began to find property owners willing to paint quilts on their barns, and the rest is history (in-the-making). In Hamilton County the project is being coordinated by Hamilton County SEED, Hamilton County ISU Extension, and Prairie Rose Quilts & Gifts."
Great project and lots of fun to drive around and see the different quilt squares! read more