A Fort Atkinson High School student is the inspiration behind a project that has recently been adopted by the Jefferson County Tourism Council, according to a recent news release.
Tawney Hadler, a junior at Fort Atkinson High School and barn quilt artist, was inspired by barn quilts when she was 14.
After exhibiting barn quilts at the Jefferson County Fair, Hadler began a small business making quilts. Among her first customers was Philip Jones of Jones Dairy Farm, and more recently, she was commissioned by the Fort Atkinson Beautification Council to create a barn quilt as public art. The piece is mounted on the outside of the Fort Atkinson Senior Center.
According to the release, Hadler’s interest in barn quilts led her to begin a project documenting barn quilts hung in the Jefferson County area. To date, she has identified 69 quilts in 57 locations.
Hadler’s work in charting these locations was embraced by the Jefferson County Tourism Council as an incentive to begin the “Barn Quilt Trail,” a self-guided driving tour, featuring barn quilts. The tour will soon be added to the county’s tourism website at www.enjoyjeffersoncounty.com, the release stated.
Katie Newcomb, president of the Jefferson County Tourism Council noted recently by phone that the project is under development as Hadler continues to locate and research the quilts. She anticipates completion of the project by the end of the year, she said.
Newcomb described work completed thus far in documenting the quilts as “impressive,” noting that inclusion of the tour on the county tourism website will provide another “asset” and reason for visitors to find and enjoy Jefferson County.
As shared within the release, Hadler, in her role as small business owner, has created 14 quilts that are mounted on buildings across Jefferson County. As part of the tour project that will appear on the tourism website, she has partnered with the Hoard Historical Museum in Fort Atkinson to create a narrative to go along with photos of quilts, which will include information about the history of each property displaying a quilt and the meaning behind the displayed barn quilt’s patterns.
Hadler continues to search for area barn quilts to add to the tour. Property owners interested in having their quilts featured in the tour are encouraged to contact Hadler by phone: 920-397-2768, or email: tawneyhadler@gmail.com.
An earlier story about the barn quilt created by Hadler as public art is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/fort-beautification-council-donates-barn-quilt-to-senior-center/.
Local artist and Fort Atkinson High School student Tawney Hadler displays a barn quilt she created. Within the last two years, she has created 14 quilts that are hung on buildings within Jefferson County.
Local artist and Fort Atkinson High School student Tawney Hadler creates a barn quilt.
Contributed photos.
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