Keeping time-honored tradition alive

Organizers believe it is a natural fit. Landmark Park is devoted to preserving the heritage of the Wiregrass. Quilters keep a time-honored tradition alive. The two have joined forces. Hence, the inaugural Landmark Park Quilt Show was born.

The show, scheduled for October 23-25 in the Stokes Activity Barn, will be the featured event in Landmark Park’s annual Wiregrass Heritage Festival.

“Landmark Park is the perfect place to have a quilt show,” said Sherry Burkhalter, who, along with Adele Kuszmaul, serves as coordinator of the show. “They are all about preserving the heritage of quilting. This place just lends itself for a retrospective way of looking at things the way they used to. We’re excited that Landmark Park is willing to make this a part of the Wiregrass Heritage Festival.”

Mrs. Burkhalter noted Landmark Park has 21 quilts in its permanent collection. She stated the park is always looking for quilt donations to add to that collection.

This inaugural show has drawn 75 quilt entries that will be judged. Of those, Mrs. Burkhalter said 50-65 are considered antique quilts.

Two noted experts on the art of quilting, Suzanne Wray of Australia, and Mary Elizabeth Johnson Huff of Montgomery, will judge the show.

“In addition to judging the quilts, Suzanne Wray and Mary Elizabeth Johnson Huff will offer quilting classes,” Mrs. Burkhalter said. “Mrs. Wray will also have an exhibit of her quilts. Mrs. Huff, who is writing a book on Alabama quilts, will have a booth where her books will be for sale.”

Mrs. Wray’s presentations will be given on Friday, October 23, at 3 p.m., and on Saturday, October 24, at noon and 3 p.m. Her presentations will be in the Interpretive Center Auditorium.
Mrs. Huff will make presentations at 2 p.m. on Friday and at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Her presentations will also be in the Interpretive Center Auditorium.

The presentations are free with gate admission, which is $4 for adults and $3 for children on Friday and Sunday (1-4 p.m.) and $8 for adults, $6 for senior citizens and $4 for children on Saturday (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) which is the actual day of the Wiregrass Heritage Festival.

As an added attraction, the Stokes Activity Barn will be a hub of activity Friday morning as more than 1,000 school children are expected to visit the Landmark Park Quilt Show. There is still time for teachers to register their classes for this educational opportunity. Registration can be made by calling Landmark Park, 794-3452. Pre-registration is required.

This event will be held from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and will feature many quilt-related activities.

“We will have a storyteller to entertain the children,” Mrs. Kuszmaul said. “Also, during their visit, the children will make pin cushions. They will also see quilt making the old-fashioned way - with ladderback chairs.

“Also included in the activities will be a bed-turning demonstration, and a quilter will discuss the various quilts that will be displayed.”

Keeping a time-honored tradition alive serves as the backdrop for this event. Vendors from various quilt shops will be on hand throughout the three-day show to assist beginners through the most veteran of quilters in finding the right supplies they need for quilting.

“We’re not only preserving our (quilting) heritage,” Mrs. Burkhalter said, “but we are also promoting quilting, which really is an art and an expression of feelings.”

“There is a lot of talent in this area that is being put into quilts,” Mrs. Kuszmaul added.

Landmark Park officials say adding the quilt show to the Wiregrass Heritage Festival is a natural fit.

“I think it’s a great addition to the Wiregrass Heritage Festival,” said Laura VanLandingham, public relations director for Landmark Park. “It ties in perfectly with the fall season as well.

“In this whole time period of the 1850s, nothing was wasted. Everything was used. We can really learn from that.

“Quilts are just one example of using scraps, of not wasting anything.”

For more information about the Landmark Park Quilt Show or the Wiregrass Heritage Festival, contact Landmark Park at 794-3452.