Youth Quilt Delights Young and Old at NAV Centre

Esther Bryan

Visitors were open-mouthed as they entered the massive Campbell Hall at Cornwall’s NAV Centre, April 18-21, to see not one, but two huge 120 foot quilts facing each other, both collaborative works of art, both reflecting the entire jewelled spectrum of colour and humanity.Quilt of Belonging, the adult quilt, made largely of all forms of textiles, stood watch like a proud parent over the Youth Quilt made almost entirely from various forms of paper.

The 791 students who participated in this pilot project,all from the Upper Canada District School Board and the Akwesasne Mohawk Board of Education, ranged in grade level from junior kindergarten to Grade 12. The resulting array of design and writing captivated viewers of all ages.

The young artists, eager to see their work on display, were bused in to the exhibition over a period of 2 days. What a delight to watch them look for their pieces, little ones on their tummies pointing to their pieces, older ones proudly having themselves photographed in front of their artwork. Lively programming activities, organized by Penny Bateman and Carmen Romo, included treasure hunts, storytelling, touchable blocks, and an art comment wall– all designed to create memorable experiences for the students. We wish to extend our thanks to all who worked to make this delightful project a success.