Here's an idea that can help repair our "torn social fabric." Visualize on the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence, an enormous quilt laid across the lawn of the Washington D.C. mall, a quilt with blocks from all 50 states. Our quilt will represent the rich mosaic of our country, expressing our histories, identities, and our common ideals of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
How might this grassroots project get accomplished?
• First send out the idea through as many channels as possible to alert quilters, teachers, church and community groups. Download the flier!
• Start working to create unique quilt blocks within families, communities, regions, then states, widening the reach each year.
• Emerging state coordinators would gather quilt blocks made in that state to bring to Washington on July 4th 2025 to display ongoing progress. The quilt would spread out in its final culmination in 2026, in celebration of our country's 250th anniversary.
Textiles are intimately essential to human life through cultural clothing, flags of pride, shrouds for mourning, baby quilts to welcome new life! Textile art can help heal divisions: there are quilters across the political spectrum! Through the creative act, each person can move from despair towards a sense of hope, community, and love for our country.
Let's “re-weave our National Cloth” towards a more perfect union!
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. (Rev. Martin Luther King)
A united America can be a super-power of love. (President Jimmy Carter)© 2024 National Quilt Project