Barn Quilts are coming to the Sierra Valley. The Sierra Valley Barn Quilt Project had an organizational meeting on Wed., Jan. 28 at 12:00 noon at the Sierraville School, 305 Lincoln St, near the intersection of Hwys. 49 & 89. Carolyn Kenny, who was instrumental in the creation of the Quincy Barn Quilt Tour in Plumas County, will be guest speaker. Barn Quilts are a national movement featured in counties throughout the United States. Barn Quilts honor the economic and cultural contribution of ranching and farming in our rural communities while also celebrating one of America’s historical art forms, the quilt square. Barn Quilts become local landmarks helping to preserve our rural heritage and provide a point of interest for visitors and sightseers. Barn Quilts are painted Quilt Squares-usually fashioned on boards and then mounted. A Barn Quilt is almost always a single square. Barn Quilt Tours take visitors on a route through the countryside to view . These Quilt Squares come in all sizes, but traditionally are large, between 6ft x 6ft and 8ft x 8ft, depending on the size of the hosting structure. In many communities, an organizing group - an arts council, a quilt guild, a 4-H club, or simply a motivated bunch of residents - work together to organize their barn quilts into a tour. Sierra County Arts Council (SCAC) is spearheading the Sierra Valley Barn Quilt Project. As State-Local Partner with the California Arts Council (CAC), the SCAC is in a prime position to apply for a grant from the CAC as part of their Creating Places of Vitality (CPV) Program that supports rural and underserved communities through grant opportunities for small arts organizations. Local organizations and volunteers will play an essential role in making this project a success. Community support is what will make the Sierra Valley Barn Quilt Project a reality. Among those organizations we expect will play a vital role in our project: Plumas-Sierra Cattlewomen, Sierra County Historical Society, Rotary, 4H, Mountain Star Quilters, Eastern Sierra County Chamber of Commerce, the City of Loyalton, Sierra County, and Sierra County Volunteer Fire Departments. This is just the beginning of the list. We hope to also bring in local sponsors and businesses and any volunteers who would like to help. Community involvement and landowner cooperation is essential to this project. Sierra Valley Barn Quilt Project The Sierra Valley Barn Quilt Project (SVBQP) held an organizational meeting Feb. 28 at Sierraville School. The next SVBQP meeting will be held on Wed. March. 18 at 6pm, Sierraville School, 305 Lincoln St, near the intersection of Hwys. 49 & 89. Plans are moving forward to the creation of these 8x8 foot square Barn Quilts and for the Sierra Valley Barn Quilt Tour, website and brochure. To raise funds the SBBQP plans to also create smaller 2x2 foot barn quilts and 4x4 foot barn quilts for purchase by local businesses and property owners. Keep an eye out for displays in your neighborhood and application forms if interested in owning a small barn quilt, or contact B.J. Jordan at the number below. Plans for the project also include a marketing and media campaign to promote tourism and support our local economy. A website and a tour map/brochure will be included as part of the campaign. The SVBQP is looking for owners of barns in the Sierra Valley that would be willing to host a barn quilt and be part of the tour. If you own a barn and are interested in hosting a Barn Quilt please contact B.J. Jordan at the number listed below. The Mountain Star Quilters are partnering with the Sierra County Arts Council to apply for the “Local Impact” grant through the California Arts Council, which will help to fund the project. Timetable includes one to two months of painting and construction this summer at Sierraville School. Sierra County and the Sierraville Recreation Association who manage the Sierraville School, have been very helpful with the project. Plans also include a celebration this fall completion of the project. How may you get involved? Come to the meeting on March. 18 and find out. If you can’t make the meeting please call or email B.J. Jordan at (530)289-3673 or info@sierracountyartscouncil.org. Website: www.sierracountyartscouncil.org LOYALTON CITY COUNCIL approved $1,500 out of general fund monies last month to decorate the abandoned indoor swimming pool building at the city park with barn quilts. The City approved $200 for one 4’x4’, $300 for one 6’x6’, $400 for one 8’x8’ and $600 for a 6’x12’ flag. Material includes 3/4” plywood, a 2”x4” frame, two coats exterior primer, two coats exterior color and two coats exterior uv polyshield. The featured quilts were winners selected in a contest held nearly two years ago with winners being awarded prize money.