Old American Art - Quilt Square

The revival of an old American folk art has taken the Flint Hills by storm over the past several years.

by Gail Parsons

Bright, colorful barn quilt patterns have been sprouting up on mailboxes, front porches, the side of buildings – and of course on barns where the original Barn Quilts were installed.

Tom and Char Grelk display three barn quilts on their front porch

In Geary County, Charlotte Grelk and her husband Tom have led the way and had the first barn quilts in the county, which were installed on the front porch of their 1908 home at 119 S. Jefferson St.; two others have since been added.

“Powercat,” “Kansas Dugout,” and “Cat’s Cradle,” are all done in K-State purple to depict her love for Kansas State University.

She made Kansas Dugout to represent the dugout homes early settlers lived in when they first arrived in Kansas, which was bare of materials to make homes from.

“Our home is our dugout,” she said. “As for the Cat’s Cradle – we’re K-State fans and put our children through K-State – this is the cradle from which they sprung.”

These three and the School House barn quilt, located in front of the old school house at the Spring Valley Historic Site, Hwy K-18 and Spring Valley Road are examples of one of the unique aspects of this art form.

Patterns on these large wooden panels represent some facet of life for the artist, the family or business. Many of the early ones were painted directly onto a structure as advertisements.

Helen Haynes with Iris Barn Quilt

Soon, another design “Iris,” which was made by Helen Haynes will go up at the Lutheran Church at Eisenhower Drive and McFarland Road. Charlotte said that one was made in memory of one of Helen’s friends. Helen also made one for the front of her shop, Hobby Haven depicting a basket, which is one of the crafts that she teaches.

Helen Haynes outside Hobby Haven shows off baskets barn quilt

Charlotte is known for having introduced Geary County to the growing interest in Barn Quilts. But, the folk art was not a novel idea for Charlotte, a native of Iowa she grew up with barn quilts simply being part of the landscape.

“I’m used to driving down the road and seeing them everywhere,” she said.

Charlotte has been offering classes to anyone interested in learning how to make one. It’s a project she says is easy and can make a fun family activity. When one is completed and installed, the owners can send information to the Kansas Flint Hills Quilt Trail and have it included on a Web site that includes a tour and map of the quilts on the trail.

In some places the quilts have become community and club projects with groups creating one large one or several in some places, the barn quilts have become community projects, such as in Abilene where 22 quilts were made by students enrolled in the High School Art Class.

The Kansas Flint Hills Quilt Trail, is part of the Kansas Flint Hills Tourism Coalition, and is partners with the American Quilt Trail, joining the art form nationwide.

When people install a barn quilt, they can have it put on the trail, but so far not too many of the ones in Geary County done so.

Two barn quilts with identical patterns adorn Munson’s Prime restaurant. The small one over the drive-through window was the sample before the larger 4-foot X 4-foot one was made for the front of the building. The design is based on an actual quilt the owner’s mother had made.

Two other barn quilts, which cannot be included on the tour, because they are not visible from the road, are inside Quilter’s Yard fabric store on North Washington St., and the Geary County Historical Society Museum.

Take a Road Trip               

People wishing to take a tour of these art pieces can visit www.ksflinthillsquilttrail.com, where quilts are listed by county and pinpointed on a Google map.

As you explore this time-honored piece of American heritage, remember to be respectful of private property. Just because someone has a barn quilt on their land, doesn’t mean they are inviting people to traipse over it, to get a closer look. All of the quilts however are visible from public roads.

Searching out these pieces of art is a great way to explore some of the quaint little towns, nestled in the rolling landscape of the Kansas Flint Hills.

Charlotte teaches people how to make barn quilts.  Classes are $35, which covers all the supplies.  The next class is at Hobby Haven, 716 N. Adams, Junction City, on June 13. People can call 223-1926 for more information or to register. Registrations can also be done at the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library.

Classes generally run 4 to 6 hours.

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