Thanks to the combined efforts of BeroTarroWood Project (Maitland City Council); SPACE Youth Services (Catholic Care); Schools as Community Centres (Department of Education and Training); and the Woodberry Co-op: Creations Out of the Blue, Woodberry residents are set to show that they are one crafty community with the creation of a community patch-work quilt called Art Across the Ages: Things I’ve seen and done.
The residents of Woodberry are being invited to create a quilt ‘square’ out of new and used fabrics to tell a story about their lives. These squares will then be sewn into the final quilt by a talented group of local artists and craftspeople and will end up on display in community halls, libraries and possibly even art galleries in the area.
Nicole Bennett, Community Planning Coordinator for Maitland City Council said, “Thanks to the assistance of a grant from Housing NSW, the crazy quilt project will help to celebrate and acknowledge the wonderful stories and life achievements of the residents in and around Woodberry”.
“The idea of Art Across the Ages: Things I’ve seen and done is to involve all people across the community and encourage them to bring their works together in one beautiful artwork – the crazy quilt”.
Meeka O’Connor from Housing NSW has noted that the creative juices have already started to flow with one local resident creating a square out of fabric that she’s had for more than thirty years, combined with some antique-style crocheting that she has done herself.
“People may actually want to use pieces of fabric or other materials that relate to something significant in their lives, such as a child’s blanket or fabric from an outfit for a special occasion”, O’Connor said.
But if sewing isn’t your thing, organisers of the project are holding two ‘Sew-Ins’ where people can come and make use of some equipment, be guided by the wealth of local expertise, and share a friendly chat and cuppa with their neighbours.
Local craftsperson and volunteer, Maureen Wright is excited about the project and said, “The Art across the Ages community quilt is actually about togetherness, sharing our stories and supporting one another, so we thought it was important that we make time to come together and create our quilt squares in company. People are also free to drop-in to the Woodberry Co-op any Tuesday between 10am and 2pm at the Noel Unicomb Hall for a cuppa and help with their quilt squares”.
The community is being encouraged to start creating their artworks now, ready for the creation of the final quilt in early December.
For more information about sizes, materials and the community Sew-Ins, including bookings for free childcare, please contact Cynthia Jenkins on 4964 2174 or Alison Harwood on 0488 207 139.
