Billings Farm & Museum Selected as one of The Vermont Craft Council State of Craft Celebration Sites for 2010

WOODSTOCK, VERMONT... The Vermont Crafts Council has selected Billings Farm & Museum as one of several satellites throughout the state to showcase programs that will feature an element of craft history. The Council is celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2010 with the State of Craft project, which is designed to illuminate the individual careers of master Vermont artists (makers), as well as document the evolution of the larger crafts community from 1965 to the present. The Crafts Council is working in partnership with the Vermont Folklife Center, the Bennington Museum, and Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing on this initiative.

Two historical quilts from the museum's permanent collection will serve as the inspiration for the Farm & Museum's Quilt Exhibition “Challenge” entitled Finding Common Threads: Historical Inspiration and Modern Interpretations.

A quilt challenge requires certain design and construction rules agreed upon by the guild members, with their goal of improving their quilting skills. The Heart of the Land Quilter's Guild members were given the opportunity to view Billings Farm's historical quilts, taking inspiration and ultimately designing and making a quilt. The Guild's completed quilts will be on display during Billings Farm & Museum's 24th Annual Quilt Exhibition, July 31 – September 26.