September 17, 2019 -- The community is invited to the unveiling of the Sesquicentennial Quilt on Monday, September 23 at 7:30 PM at Highland Park City Hall, 1707 St. Johns Ave. The quilt is one of several initiatives that was undertaken to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the City. Quilters included Abby Block, Janet Rohde Fisher, Judith Stern Friedman, Nancy Hepner Goodman, Cynthia Davis Karabush, Amy Spungen, and Nell Thorpe. Quilt designer Cheryl Steiger and finish quilter Sue DiVarco were also instrumental in the project. All quilters are Highland Park residents.
“Seven Highland Park residents, all seasoned quilters, worked together to visually capture the vibrant culture of Highland Park that is found in its art, architecture, music, parks, history, and education,” said project leader, Abby Block. “Through imagination and hard work, we created the Highland Park Sesquicentennial Quilt, which features the beloved landmarks of the City beautifully crafted in fabric.”
The Sesquicentennial Quilt took nearly a year to complete. Each block of the quilt is the result of thoughtful design and planning, and collaborating to find the right combination of fabric shapes, colors, and textures.
Landmarks include the Highland Park Train Station, Highland Park High School, the Highland Park Public Library, Ravinia Festival, and Stupey Cabin. Rays emanating from the anniversary logo represent the City's progressive culture. The layout expresses a contemporary, forward-thinking aesthetic.
“The nature of the medium is fitting for this occasion, as it also captures quilting’s historic spirit,” said Block. “Multiple hands lovingly drew the images, cut the fabrics, and stitched the pieces to capture a human, heartfelt connection in honor of the city we are proud to call home.”
The City of Highland Park began its sesquicentennial celebrations in January 2019 and will continue to celebrate the monumental year through December 2019. All plans are guided by the HP150 Steering Committee and nine subcommittees comprised of over 100 volunteers.
The Sesquicentennial Quilt will be displayed at City Hall through October until it is moved to the Chicago Botanic Garden for display from November 8-10. The quilt will then be on display at the Highland Park Public Library starting November 11.
To learn more about the City’s sesquicentennial celebration, please visit www.cityhpil.com/HP150.