News Release
Alaska Artists and Quilters Create Commemorative 50th Anniversary of Statehood Quilt
Anchorage, Alaska - Dec. 26, 2008 – Alaska artists and quilters from across the state were asked to submit a quilt block with a design that represented their interpretation of Alaska’s Golden Anniversary, which would be sewn together in one large tribute to Alaska’s 50th Anniversary. The blocks are being assembled into nine panels by some of the artists and volunteers from the Alaska Fiber Festival. Once assembled, it will be on display at the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center Jan. 2 – 11, 2009, before going on tour to be displayed at different museums and libraries around the state.
“The 50th Anniversary of Statehood Quilt Invitational was conceived as a way for individuals around the state to participate in the celebration of statehood by doing something creative and personally meaningful,” said Darl Schaaff, co-planner and coordinator of the Anchorage Statehood Celebration. “The entries we received are a beautiful representation of our state.”
The project was advertised through members of the Alaska Fiber Festival, quilting shops and invitational letters sent to all the mayors throughout the state. The response was overwhelming; 58 quilt blocks measuring 24” x 30” were submitted by 147 artists from 22 towns across the state. The blocks were created by both individual artists and collaborations of artists within the different communities, 56 of them were completely original designs.
Also opening at the Anchorage Museum on Jan. 2, 2009, in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary of Statehood Celebration; Creating Alaska: Origins of the 49th State, chronicling every major statehood landmark from Seward’s Folly (the purchase of Alaska in 1867) to the day Alaska’s star was added to Old Glory in 1959; and Life in Alaska leading to Statehood, re-creating the 1950’s through photographs and objects such as Anchorage High School yearbooks, statehood ballots, household goods, toys and advertisements. Both exhibitions will be on view through Sept. 30, 2009.
For more information about 50th Anniversary of Statehood events go to www.anchorage.net/50.
The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s (ACVB) mission is to attract and serve visitors to the Municipality of Anchorage as a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO). ACVB’s marketing functions are funded by one-third of the bed tax collected by lodging associations. One-third goes to the Municipality’s general fund, a contribution established in 1978, and one-third goes to the construction and annual maintenance costs of the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center and the William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center. ACVB receives no state or federal funds. Explore www.Anchorage.net for more information.
# # #Media Contacts:
Jeanette Anderson Moores
Public Relations
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
jmoores@anchorage.net
(907) 276-4118
Explore www.Anchorage.net
