AAC
FEATURE
Following the Arkansas Quilt Trail
Twist on time-honored tradition connecting counties, attracting visitors Story By Holland Doran AAC Communications Coordinator
M
ost southerners can recognize a quilt. Many have received them as colorful, cozy gifts from a grandmother or loved one that honors the past or tells a story. The art of making quilts from fabric is centuries old. Today, however, not all quilts can be found resting on a chair or folded in a chest. They are taking the form of paintings on wood canvases, which are then placed on barns, historic buildings, and other significant places, creating a patchwork of local history through Arkansas’ counties. These roadside works of art are part of Arkansas Quilt Trails network, which is part of a growing national trend to share history and create sight-seeing destinations through painted quilts. Stone County resident and Arkansas Trails Volunteer Coordinator Renee Carr began working to get Arkansas counties involved by enlisting volunteers across the state. Thirty-four counties now have a volunteer who oversees their county’s program. “It’s a very grassroots organization that relies on people that take an interest in their county and want to see this as something they can be proud of in their county,” Carr said. Carr and a friend started Arkansas’ painted quilt trend in Stone County before it became an organized, state-wide effort. 28
The “Dogwood Blossom” quilt is displayed at the Dogwood Hills Guest Farm off of Hwy. 14 in Harriet, Searcy County. It’s created by Jack Benefiel. “Me and a friend of mine had seen these trails elsewhere and thought Stone County would be a fun place to do that,” Carr said. “So, she and I worked and created the Stone County trail. And then it kind of grew organically to the counties contiguous to us — Van Buren, Searcy — they were the next two. Then, Perry got on board, then Baxter.” The quilts enhance Arkansas’ natural beauty, and they also create an opportunity to tell visitors about Arkansas’ people, places, and even the quilting tradition. “Arkansas Quilt Trails began as a way of preserving local history while beautifying our communities for residents and visitors COUNTY LINES, SPRING 2021
