Prairie Dreams
Pieced by Jan Bruce, Frontenac MN. Quilted by Sandy Wieck, Lake City, MN.
Pattern: "Into the Storm" by Toni Whitney.
It's easy to envision great herds of bison roaming the fields of prairie grass with high soft clouds moving slowly across the horizon. However, blue skies can turn black in a moment's notice on the open range as it did for this lone bison braving the storm.
We are all accustomed to representations of nature, from plein airpainting to eye-opening photographs of seldom seen moments in the wild to literature and music inspired by nature. Generally, this art is experienced indoors in an institutional setting or in the comfort of our homes. With Prairie Dreams, we wanted the audience to experience art and nature at the same time, in the same place.
It is an experiment. What does the rich diversity of (mostly) area quilters think of when they think of the prairie? What will you think of their quilts as you walk the trail of these prairie dreams with birdsong in the air, the sun and breeze on your face, the living prairie before you? How will memories of past walks in Frontenac State Park and elsewhere affect your viewing, understanding and appreciation of the quilts? How will this walk become a memory to unpack and enjoy during future walks in the park and elsewhere in nature?
We hope you enjoy this blossoming of creativity on the prairie.
Prairie Dreams is a project conceived collaboratively by the Frontenac State Park Association’s Arts Committee and supported by our membership and the amazing staff of Frontenac State Park. Thank you in particular, to the 123 quilters and their collaborators who contributed their dreams to this project. We are so grateful. A complete list of the quilters with images of their quilts is linked below. Installation views will be added at a later date.
Steve Dietz, President, Frontenac State Park Association
Frontenac State Park Association Arts Committee: Jan Bruce, Linda Buysse, Steve Dietz, Janet Malotky, Jeneann Oppedahl, Nathan Oppedahl, Barb Partington, Lynne Staker
The Challenge
Jan Bruce, Artistic Director, Prairie Dreams: Trail of Quilts
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Prairie Dreams: Trail of Quilts was presented to potential participants as a quilt challenge. Each of 150 quilters were given a kit of three - 1/3 yard cuts of fabric. The fabrics, a brown, a blue and an orange were to represent earth, wind and fire. The challenge was to use those three fabrics, along with any other fabrics of their choice, to create a quilt which represented their vision of the prairie. Quilters were instructed to use as much or as little of each fabric as they needed and were also given permission to dye, paint, bead or otherwise disguise the fabric as needed for their project. However all 3 fabrics must be used.
Our initial plan was to attend five local quilt groups and distribute 75 kits. To our delight, those 75 kits were spoken for at the first two meetings I attended! The decision was made to expand the number of kits to 150. We were receiving requests for kits even after that number was exhausted. The show has quilters of all ages and all skill levels. It has been a joy to watch this show come together. We hope you will enjoy seeing the variety we have to present . |
The challenge was to use these fabrics, along with any other fabrics of the quilter’s choice, to create a quilt which represented their vision of the prairie.
Now your challenge: Can you find the three fabrics in each quilt? |
Stars of the Prairie. Pieced and quilted by Marsha Turvold, Rochester. An original design featuring the Mariner's Compass.
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Park Rangers Award
A Slice of the Prairie
Pieced, quilted and designed by
Marge Kaufer, Zumbrota, MN
When I imagine the prairie, I see an endless blue sky, a garden of wildflowers and grasses teaming with life, all on a life-sustaining bed of nutrient rich soil.
There were many wonderful quilts on display, and selecting just one was no easy task. In the end, the rangers agreed that this quilt captured the spirit of the prairie most beautifully. The importance of deep and enduring roots to the health of prairie ecosystems cannot be overstated, and the thoughtful inclusion of the distinct belowground layer brings that hidden foundation vividly to life. The rich variety of flowers, plants, and insects Marge incorporated throughout the piece serves as a striking tribute to the diversity and vitality found within our prairies. Beautifully conceived and wonderfully executed—excellent work!
Jake Gaster, Frontenac State Park manager, and Amy Jay, Frontenac State Park assistant manager
I love that this quilt prominently features one of the most amazing things about the prairie: the incredible root systems that sustain prairie plants. While lawn grass has roots 2-4 inches in length, prairie grasses can have roots 15 feet deep! Marge gives these roots a jazzy and powerful interpretation that anchors the rest of this joyful depiction of life in the prairie. Janet Malotky is a Master Naturalist volunteer and author of the Bird Notes column for the Frontenac State Park Association newsletter.
A very nice display of a prairie. The colorful variety of flowers and plants all sustained by the rich soil, their roots going deep. The butterflies and bugs enjoying the prairies bounty.
Good job!
Barb Partington is an avid outdoorsperson, woodcarver, painter and horse enthusiast.
A Slice of the Prairie
Pieced, quilted and designed by
Marge Kaufer, Zumbrota, MN
When I imagine the prairie, I see an endless blue sky, a garden of wildflowers and grasses teaming with life, all on a life-sustaining bed of nutrient rich soil.
There were many wonderful quilts on display, and selecting just one was no easy task. In the end, the rangers agreed that this quilt captured the spirit of the prairie most beautifully. The importance of deep and enduring roots to the health of prairie ecosystems cannot be overstated, and the thoughtful inclusion of the distinct belowground layer brings that hidden foundation vividly to life. The rich variety of flowers, plants, and insects Marge incorporated throughout the piece serves as a striking tribute to the diversity and vitality found within our prairies. Beautifully conceived and wonderfully executed—excellent work!
Jake Gaster, Frontenac State Park manager, and Amy Jay, Frontenac State Park assistant manager
I love that this quilt prominently features one of the most amazing things about the prairie: the incredible root systems that sustain prairie plants. While lawn grass has roots 2-4 inches in length, prairie grasses can have roots 15 feet deep! Marge gives these roots a jazzy and powerful interpretation that anchors the rest of this joyful depiction of life in the prairie. Janet Malotky is a Master Naturalist volunteer and author of the Bird Notes column for the Frontenac State Park Association newsletter.
A very nice display of a prairie. The colorful variety of flowers and plants all sustained by the rich soil, their roots going deep. The butterflies and bugs enjoying the prairies bounty.
Good job!
Barb Partington is an avid outdoorsperson, woodcarver, painter and horse enthusiast.
Outstanding Artistic Merit Award
Where Fire Breathes the Prairie Awakes
Pieced and designed by Sandy Siewert
Zumbro Falls, MN
Quilted by Lorrie Sonnek, Red Wing, MN
Controlled burns rejuvenate native prairies.
The first thing that many of us notice from afar about a prairie fire is a large pall of smoke hanging heavily over the landscape. The initial response is often worry. Oh no, what’s burning down? Siewert captures some of this angst in the dirty yellow-gray sky of her quilt. Remarkably, she attained this coloration by dyeing her fabric with dirty snow! The middle ground provides no relief with a treeline of black, burned out trees and ashen gray landscape. Again, this is often the response to an actual prescribed burn. It looks bleak, almost lunar with none of the green and floral colors we associate with healthy prairies. In time, however, often within a matter of days, fresh green shoots appear, and new growth begins. The foreground of Siewert’s quilt might represent the actual flames of a prescribed prairie burn, but surely it also conjures the soon-to-come transformation to a riot of fresh flora and darting wildlife, which have been “awakened.” Bravo.
Frontenac State Park Association Arts Committee
Jan Bruce, Linda Buysse, Dietz, Janet Malotky, Jeneann Oppedahl, Nathan Oppedahl, Barb Partington, Lynne Staker
All of the quilts in the show are innovative, and many are simply stunning. "Where Fire Breathes the Prairie Awake” completely captivated me. The fabrics used to convey fire, prairie and sky are perfect, and the images honor the importance of controlled burns to keep Frontenac State Park's prairies native and beautiful. It's perfect.
Pamela Miller, Master Naturalist volunteer and editor of the Frontenac State Park Association newsletter
This quilt incorporates a prairie’s elemental aspects of earth, wind, and fire. The randomness of the fire. The charcoal grey of ash. The quilting and coloring on the sky/smoke/clouds is realistic. Very cool!
Barb Partington is an avid outdoorsperson, woodcarver, painter and horse enthusiast.
Where Fire Breathes the Prairie Awakes
Pieced and designed by Sandy Siewert
Zumbro Falls, MN
Quilted by Lorrie Sonnek, Red Wing, MN
Controlled burns rejuvenate native prairies.
The first thing that many of us notice from afar about a prairie fire is a large pall of smoke hanging heavily over the landscape. The initial response is often worry. Oh no, what’s burning down? Siewert captures some of this angst in the dirty yellow-gray sky of her quilt. Remarkably, she attained this coloration by dyeing her fabric with dirty snow! The middle ground provides no relief with a treeline of black, burned out trees and ashen gray landscape. Again, this is often the response to an actual prescribed burn. It looks bleak, almost lunar with none of the green and floral colors we associate with healthy prairies. In time, however, often within a matter of days, fresh green shoots appear, and new growth begins. The foreground of Siewert’s quilt might represent the actual flames of a prescribed prairie burn, but surely it also conjures the soon-to-come transformation to a riot of fresh flora and darting wildlife, which have been “awakened.” Bravo.
Frontenac State Park Association Arts Committee
Jan Bruce, Linda Buysse, Dietz, Janet Malotky, Jeneann Oppedahl, Nathan Oppedahl, Barb Partington, Lynne Staker
All of the quilts in the show are innovative, and many are simply stunning. "Where Fire Breathes the Prairie Awake” completely captivated me. The fabrics used to convey fire, prairie and sky are perfect, and the images honor the importance of controlled burns to keep Frontenac State Park's prairies native and beautiful. It's perfect.
Pamela Miller, Master Naturalist volunteer and editor of the Frontenac State Park Association newsletter
This quilt incorporates a prairie’s elemental aspects of earth, wind, and fire. The randomness of the fire. The charcoal grey of ash. The quilting and coloring on the sky/smoke/clouds is realistic. Very cool!
Barb Partington is an avid outdoorsperson, woodcarver, painter and horse enthusiast.
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People's Choice Award Prairie Totem Pole Pieced, quilted and designed by Debra Ninas, Elgin, MN This totem pole represents some of the animals that make the prairie their home. |
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This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.
