PCAAC to create barn quilt trail

Rural communities across the country are sharing and celebrating their heritage through barn quilts, many even creating “quilt trails” throughout their counties.

Southwest Nebraska is no different, and now thanks to the Perkins County Area Arts Council (PCAAC) and local volunteers, Perkins County will be joining the tradition.

Barn quilts are painted on large pieces of wood in the same styles and patterns reminiscent of cloth quilts, but are a single square of what would eventually become a quilt.

Visit Southwest Nebraska’s website highlights multiple counties throughout the state in which visitors can follow quilt trails created in rural towns.

According to PCAAC volunteer, DeeAnn Tatum, volunteers from Perkins, Lincoln, Keith and Chase counties have come together to help create a Perkins County quilt trail.

The project in Perkins County got underway at Meadowlark Gallery in Grant after Tatum and an artist from Fillmore County, one of the featured counties on the Visit Southwest Nebraska website, connected on Facebook.

PCAAC purchased the supplies for the project, from lumber to paint brushes, to help volunteers participate in the project and create the trail.

Nebraska Extension Educator Debbie Kuenning, has visited Meadlowlark Gallery to share a presentation of the history behind barn quilts. 

PCAAC members and artists are currently completing six 4-by-4-foot  blocks in the work room at Meadowlark Gallery.

This summer the barn quilts will be on permanent display along Highway 23 between Grainton and Venango, explained Tatum.

“The old bowling alley in Grant already has four of our barn quilts in the window and later this summer we will be adding a giant 8-by-8-foot matching quilt to the building’s window,” Tatum said.

According to Tatum, the colors chosen for the Perkins County barn quilts date back to colonial Jamestown. PCAAC also wanted colors that would stay true and show little signs of fading over a decade of sun and weather.

Locations throughout the county for the barn quilts have yet to be determined. 

PCAAC is looking for locations visible from the highway and are hoping county residents will be excited to volunteer their barns or businesses for the displays. Those wishing to do so may contact Meadowlark Gallery on Facebook. 

During the Perkins County School student art show in March the work room at Meadowlark Gallery will be open to all volunteer barn quilt painters every Friday and Saturday evening from 6-8 p.m. 

All are welcome to come take part in creating the Perkins County barn quilt trail.