Oconee Heritage Quilt Trail
South Carolina
The Blue Ridge Arts Council is taking the lead in bringing the National Quilt Trail to South Carolina. The Quilt Trail began in 2001 in Ohio when Donna Sue Groves installed a painted quilt design on her barn to honor her mother, a fifth generation Appalachian quilter. From that simple act, the project has spread to more than 2,000 colorfully painted quilt designs on barns and other structures in twenty-four states.
The popularity of the quilt square design trails has grown as communities see them as an artistic celebration of history and culture. Individual structure owners chose to honor their quilting ancestors and rural life. Ms. Groves wishes future quilt square design trails to honor females as she did her mother.
Here in Oconee County, a group of dedicated citizens is working to put South Carolina on the map by establishing the Oconee Heritage Quilt Trail. The first quilt in South Carolina, which has been sponsored by the Wynward Pointe Ladies Group, will be mounted on the Oconee Heritage Center in Walhalla, SC, in the Rocky Mountain Road pattern made in 1930 by Lena Mae Land Talley, of Mountain Rest. It will be recreated on an 8' x 8' weather resistant wooden panel mounted on the outside wall of the Oconee Heritage Center. Others are sponsoring quilts to be painted on other buildings in the county.
Quilt trails bring an economic benefit to communities by attracting tourists to the countryside and include historical sites along the route. Businesses that are part of the trail have experienced increased traffic and interest.
Oconee Heritage Quilt Trail
E-mail:
Blue Ridge Arts Council
Phone/Fax: (864) 882-2722
E-mail:
Contacts
Photo Credit
Sponsors
Blue Ridge Electric Co-op
Web sites of interest about the
National Quilt Trail
This is the first quilt for the South Carolina Trail, which has been sponsored by the Wynward Pointe Ladies Group, and will be mounted on the Oconee Heritage Center in Walhalla, SC. The original quilt currently is on display in the Oconee Heritage Center and was made in 1930 by Lena Mae Land Talley, of Mountain Rest.
"The quilt is a traditional southern pattern called Rocky Mountain Road, or Crown of Thorns. The colors reflect the 1920's when pastels were introduced and quilters were turning to light, bright color schemes. The pattern itself may have come from settlers who had moved west, or it could have come from the Mountain Mist Manufacturing Company of Cincinnati, OH, manufacturers of cotton batting as well as quilt patterns."
Oconee Heritage Quilt Trail Project Steering Committee
Martha File - Chairperson
Donna Absher
Diane Bartlett
Cindy Blair
Christine Drais
Jenny Grobusky
Carolyn Harris
Andy Heller
Laurel Horton
Cynthia Leggett
Janice Nimmons
Jack Rookard
Barbara & James Schoonover
Ken Sloan
Stephanie Sparling
Chris Troy
Donors
Ron and Stephanie Sparling
Jenny Grobusky
Ladies Group from Wynward Pointe
Events:
October workshop – Don and Sarah Hart from Richmond KY conduct a 2-day workshop for 35 volunteers to learn how to lay out boards and paint pattern.
November – workshop quilt finished and design work for Rocky Road quilt completed
December – production of quilts begins at Conservatory of Fine Arts in Walhalla.
January – Heritage Center quilted completed and several other quilt begun.
February – anticipate first two quilts to be hung at the Oconee Heritage Center and Conservatory of Fine Arts in Walhalla.
