Prince Frederick, MD – The Arts Council of Calvert County together with the Calvert County Department of Economic Development is excited to announce the launch of a Barn Quilt Trail in Calvert County. A barn quilt is a replica of one square from a quilt, painted on plywood (usually 8’ x 8’) and mounted on the side of barn or other building. Thousands of barn quilts exist around the country including some in Garrett County and Carroll County. Calvert County’s Barn Quilt Trail will initially include 12 quilts displayed around the county and will be the first barn quilts to hang in Southern Maryland.
“What an exciting way to honor the arts, our agricultural heritage and America’s quilting tradition” said Rane Franklin, President of the Arts Council of Calvert County. “We look forward to the quilts being designed and erected. And, we hope to expand this program in the very near future to involve our students, much like the Seahorse Project done in 2004.” Franklin continued.
To launch this project, the Department of Economic Development and the Arts Council are sponsoring a contest to pick the designs for the first 12 barn quilts, one of which will become the logo of the Calvert County Barn Quilt Trail (CCBQT). We encourage all interested Calvert County residents to submit a geometric design that could be transferred to an 8’ x 8’ square. (The submission does not of course need to 8’ x8’.) With your design please provide a short explanation of the design including a statement on the inspiration for the design. Designs should be sent to the Arts Council of Calvert County, Post Office Box 2569, Prince Frederick, MD 20678, no later than April 30, 2016.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Arts Council on the Barn Quilt Trail project,” said Linda Vassallo, director of the Calvert County Department of Economic Development. “The trail will showcase the county’s rural character in a fun, unique way. It joins the Patuxent Wine Trail and the Patuxent Arts Trail as yet another attraction that encourages residents and visitors alike to explore our beautiful county.”
For more information on the Calvert County Barn Quilt Trail please contact Arts Council Executive Director Bob Carpenter at 410 257 7005.