The quilt is a symbol of comfort, family, heritage and community - symbolizing the best traditions of hearth and home. Madison County continues to be true to its rural roots and cultural heritage holds a treasured place in our community, traditional music, flat foot dancing, storytelling, all are deeply woven into the fabric of our county. Quilts also hold a treasured place and are seen as a thread that runs through our rural culture both historically and presently.

The Madison County Arts Council has an on-going community project titled the Barn Quilt project. Based on similar projects in other states, MCAC is sponsoring the creation of a series of paintings of quilt squares which adorn barns around our county. As enough Barn Quilts are “made” and “hung” on barns throughout our county, MCAC will create a driving map and brochure to highlight the work. This map will bring locals and tourists into our community to view this unique and delightful project.

We looked at this Barn Quilt project and saw its potential as a community building and economic development tool and realized that this was just one aspect of our community quilt story. What about the “real” quilts? Where are they, what are their stories and who is listening to and remembering those stories? We decided to document the work and the words that bind a quilt to a family and to our community. Is the cultural heritage of quilts still a living art or is it dying out – and if so, why?

While Madison County retains its rural status the face of our county is experiencing unprecedented change and growth. Tobacco farming is clearly on its way out and farmland is rapidly becoming bought for developments. Who would have envisioned a gated community in Madison County? When this grant request was written there were five proposed – the county now has nine. As our county grows and changes it is important to document those traditionally rural crafts that were integral to the social fabric of Madison County. This can be used as an educational tool for our new residents as well as important historical information. It is also important to know who is still quilting – creating new or traditional work.

We acknowledge the importance of supporting and honoring our culture and our unique community through documentation of oral history projects surrounding family quilts. Equally important is tracking the current “life” of quilting and the many forms that are now defining quilts within our county.

MCAC contracted with well-known documentary photographer, Rob Amberg, to teach a documentary photography workshop to volunteer photographers. In lieu of payment they would give 20 hours of time to document the quilts of Madison County. These photographers would then get names back of quilters/quilt owners who would be good subjects for Jinny to interview in the limited time frame that she could spend on this project.

The workshop, which was limited to 15 students to allow Rob to work closely with the photographers, quickly filled. The purpose of this workshop was not to teach a person the rudiments of photography; the volunteers were seasoned photographers who wanted to hone their documentary skills. Much like a patchwork quilt each member of the “team” brought unique gifts to the project. One brought years of curatorial work, another the knowledge of textiles which has helped to date quilts, one the eye of an artist as well as a photographer, another was born and raised in Madison and therefore provided a wealth of contacts. Together we have formed a unique and rich group.

If you are interested in a future photography workshop or have quilts that you would like documented and photographed please call or e-mail the office.