Oregon Quilt Project kicks off at Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show

Quilts have been cherished for hundreds of years. They tell a story, represent who we are, and keep a record of who we have been. Now more than ever, they are more than a cover to throw on the bed. Today's quilts are artistic and cherished keepsakes.

For nearly 30 years, quilt "projects" have been registering quilts state-by-state across America. All but four states have completed a project documenting their state's select quilts. While other states have focused on historic quilts, Oregon has chosen to cherish all its quilts. Even quilts completed yesterday have been brought forward for registration.

"Most states cut off their project in 1950," said Bill Volckening, Oregon Quilt Project coordinator, "but Oregon is including quilts created up to today and even into the next couple years when the project is complete. In two years we will create a catalog."

Jean Wells-Keenan is fast turning Oregon into the world's quilt Mecca with her innovative techniques, and her ability to redefine standard techniques from this new era of quilters. She is exemplary in gathering an army of supporters who come together each year supporting the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.

It's no surprise that Oregon's Quilt Project, started in April, held its kick-off event in Sisters during the quilt show. They are documenting quilts chosen by their owners as quilts they would like to record for posterity.

"One of our goals is to define what is an Oregon quilt," said Volckening, who is not only a project coordinator, but is also a collector of quilts. "It all started in 1981 with the Kentucky Quilt Project. Shelly Zegart was the ringleader. She's influential in the world of quilts. I bought my first quilt from her and have bought several since."

In addition to Volckening, the group consists of coordinator Martha Spark, and four experts in the field with backgrounds in quilt history, authorship, lecturing, teaching, appraising, and museum studies, Volckening told The Nugget.

As documenters, they measure the quilt, examine the details, and take several pictures, including pictures of the label. In some cases they are trying to determine the age of the quilt.

"We want to make sure the history doesn't get separated from their quilts," Volckening said, "but really, we're making a record of the project. One person brought in a quilt she thought was on the Oregon Trail."

Ruth Ingham, a quilter and quilt appraiser, talked about an appraisal she did for the High Desert Museum in Bend.

"I looked at what was brought in as a trail quilt, but it wasn't. Really we couldn't find any quilts that were brought over on the Oregon Trail because they were used up on the trail as rags or packing materials."

Several factors can be used to determine the age of the quilt.

"Everything in the quilt is a clue for us to identify the age of the quilt," Volckening said. "In the early days, hand-quilting was done, but they might sew the binding with the sewing machine to show they were affluent enough to have a sewing machine. Styles of stitches change through the years as well as types of fabrics. Batiks don't arrive in quilts until recently."

Local quilter June Jaeger has already registered three of her quilts, and registered two of her show quilts last weekend, one depicting horses and another dogs.

"The horse one has gone to quite a few shows and won several prizes," Jaeger said. "The dog quilt, this is it's first show."

The artist was inspired by a recurring dream.

"I had a dream of horses coming down a hill," Jaeger said. "I had the same dream over and over until I made the quilt. Then I didn't have the dream any more."

The quilt project is also documenting quilts made by Jaeger's sister, Jean Wells-Keenan.

"I chose the ones I felt were one-of-a-kind design," Keenan said. "They needed to have something special about them, and the ones I thought would be of interest fifty years from now."

Karen Alexander, quilt historian, has been studying quilts since 1981, when she joined the American Quilt Study Group founded in Mill Valley, California in 1980.

"I started quilting in 1980," she said. "My mother got me into it because my mother made a quilt of my daughter's artwork from age two to eight. That's what hooked me to start quilting."

Alexander was also a past president of the Quilter's Hall of Fame, where Jean Wells-Keenan will be inducted on Saturday, July 17 in Marion, Indiana.

"Keenan is the 40th inductee," said Alexander, "and it's happening on her 35th anniversary (as owner of Stitchin' Post)."