Barn Quilts: Sharing Stories Across Shawano County For 11 Years

The following article was written for the weekly Art Forward series through the Rahr-West Art Museum. This week’s author is Carrie Estrella.

According to the International Museum of Quilts at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, artist Michael James and art historian Sandra Sider suggest quilts hold “a precarious position at the intersection of art, craft, and design.”  In addition to beautifying their surroundings, quilts have the power to chronicle histories, document family trees, commemorate special days, memorialize loved ones, campaign and drive awareness of issues and interests, and/or bring a community closer together.  Traditionally one thinks of a “quilt” as a multi-layered blanket, consisting of a woven cloth top, a layer of batting or wadding, and then another woven back layer of cloth sewn together.   But, more recently the powerful symbolism of quilt patterns has migrated over into the public art scene, decorating the sides of barns all around the country – including barns in Shawano County.

While barn quilts themselves have been around for many years, the idea of intentionally creating a collection of barn quilts along a specific trail that can be driven or walked is a more recent phenomenon. According to several barn quilt websites, the idea appears to have been developed in 2001 by Donna Sue Groves of Adams County, Ohio.  Donna’s plan started out small – it was originally to paint a quilt block on her own tobacco barn to memorialize her mother.  However, once the idea got out, it took on a life of its own.  Friends and neighbors offered to paint and display barn quilts on their own properties throughout the county.  Recognizing this collection of barn quilts in a single area as a possible draw for tourism, the first “barn quilt trail” was born.

Shawano County calls itself the Barn Quilt Capital of Wisconsin.  With 376 8’ x 8’ plywood painted quilt squares displayed on buildings throughout the countryside, it seems like a legitimate claim.

 

But what (or perhaps the more appropriate question is – who?) was the inspiration behind all of these barn quilts being put on display in Shawano County?  That idea can be credited back to Jim and Irene Leuenberger. Since 2010, this couple and their small network of volunteers have been dedicated to painting barn quilts in the basement of the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce and hoisting them up for display throughout the county.

The Leuenbergers were inspired to fill the countryside with colorful barn quilts after seeing similar displays while on vacation in 2010.  “My inspiration for starting the project for Shawano County in 2010 was, first, to encourage barn owners in the county to preserve their historic old barns – and many have done that over the past decade by having their barn painted, putting on steel siding, replacing the roof, and by having done additional landscaping around their barn and yard. Secondly, it was another way to encourage tourism to our beautiful area. That has been very successful as well, with numerous people coming to Shawano from all over the country to see the quilts and many bus tours coming here to see them,” stated Jim.

All Shawano County barn quilts are made by painting a quilt pattern on two 4’ X 8’ sheets of 3/4” plywood which is then mounted on a barn to form an eight-foot square. Each quilt receives 2 coats of primer before the designs are painted.  Designs then get 3 coats of paint, color by color, ensuring adequate drying time in between coats.  Before installation, each piece is given at least 2 weeks to dry.

The original barn quilt was designed and painted by members of the Caroline Aces 4-H Club and was put up on display on September 25, 2010 in Caroline, WI; the most recent design – #376 – Watching Over You – was just placed on display earlier this month in Clintonville, WI.

According to Jim Leuenberger, “My wife and I have painted probably 95% of the quilts that are on display in Shawano County, all on a volunteer basis. The best part of the project for us has been the wonderful people we’ve met who we didn’t know before. Seeing their smiling faces when we put up their quilt is priceless. It’s the best payment we could receive. The patterns people have chosen have become more intricate, but I have been able to figure out how to lay them out and they look great on the barns.  I hope to continue to paint barn quilts for Shawano County as long as people want them. We certainly have plenty more barns that could use a quilt, so I hope to reach 400 sometime in 2022.”

Next Saturday, September 25, 2021, the 9th annual Bike the Barn Quilts presented by ThedaCare will take place. Six non-competitive, scenic routes varying in distance from 17 to 70 miles, are offered – all beginning at Memorial Athletic Park in Shawano.  Each ride promises to showcase a large variety of beautiful quilt patterns (and, if the weather cooperates, these public works of art will be framed by beautiful and bountiful fall colors!)  Check out the bike routes!

 

The Bike the Barn Quilts event supports the programs and services of Shawano Pathways, whose mission is to promote tourism, economic growth, healthier living, family fun, and greater opportunities for exercise.  But, if you’re unable to make it this weekend (or are not an avid bike rider), the barn quilts are available for you to take in all year long – whether you run, jog, walk, bike or drive to see them.  Or, you can consider purchasing a copy of The Barn Quilts of Shawano County Wisconsin, by Jim Leuenberger – a 78-page book featuring the first 366 quilts and two maps showing the location of each quilt.  It is available for $15 at the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce or on ebay.