Meredith Raffle, executive director of the alliance, said the ideas for quilt paintings installed on barns is a nationwide phenomenon that began in Adams County, Ohio.
The Mason-Deerfield Arts Alliance mounted its first quilt painting on a barn in Deerfield Twp.’s Fleckenstein Park last summer.
“That project was so successful,” said Raffle, “that the Arts Alliance has decided to launch a county-wide quilt barn trail in the spirit of weaving the arts throughout Warren County.”
The Quilt Barn Trail Project committee will be responsible for working with both individuals and organizations to design and install quilt paintings on barns and other buildings throughout Warren County.
All paintings must be mounted high enough to be seen from a road. The committee has chosen the barn at the King historic home as the next to receive a quilt painting. The King barn quilt painting is scheduled for unveiling on Aug. 7 as part of the Art Alliance’s “Powder Keg” 5K race fundraiser.
Local artist and engineer Denny Means designed, painted and installed the Alliance’s first quilt barn painting.
Means’ engineering background helped him develop specific criteria for materials, construction and mounting of the painting. The Arts Alliance has decided to adopt those standards for all the quilt painting going forward.
“There are more than 2,300 quilt barn painting in 20 states throughout the U.S.” Means said, “When I studied some of the works from those other states I noticed that the paintings were deteriorating rapidly. Part of my mission in designing the first quilt barn painting for Mason-Deerfield Arts Alliance was to find better ways to construct and mount the paintings on the buildings.”
Residents who want to join the committee or interested in becoming part of the Warren County Quilt Barn Trail should contact the Mason-Deerfield Arts Alliance at (513) 309-8585 or www.masonarts.org.
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