I’m An Illinois Roads Scholar! (Topic: Quilts In America, Of Course)

posted in: Art, Chicago, Quilting, Work 23
Image: Illinois Humanities Council and me adding text.
Image: Illinois Humanities Council and me adding text.

You know how yesterday I talked about having a Big, Fat, Grand Plan for contributing to the world of quilting in a bigger way, if the world will let me? Remember how you all said wonderful, encouraging things and looked amazing while you said them? Whatever you were doing, keep doing it: Yesterday, I got an email from the Illinois Humanities Council congratulating me for being accepted as an Illinois Roads Scholar!

Here’s what the Humanities Council says of this program:

“Our Road Scholars Speakers Bureau invites Illinois authors, artists, and scholars to share their expertise and enthusiasm with people in communities throughout our state.  It also enables local nonprofit organizations to present compelling, free-admission cultural programs to their communities at little cost to them.”

How cool is that?? This is a tremendous opportunity because it does exactly what I was talking about yesterday: It gives me an opportunity to answer the question, “What can a quilt do?” for an entirely new audience.

The lengthy application was due in June and I only heard yesterday evening that I got in. Apparently, the competition was extra fierce this year and stuff just takes a long time. I pitched a talk called “Quilts: America’s Greatest Creative Legacy” and now I get to do it! For money! At venues that will be packed (hopefully) with both quilters and non-quilters who will see quilts in a new light. Maybe those people will be inspired to make a quilt of their own; maybe those people will at least find new love for the quilts and quilters in their lives. There is no way under the sun this Roads Scholar Speakers Bureau is anything but a win-win-win-win for all.

Thought I’d share the good news. And for all my friends in Illinois, I think you can request me? I’ll be doing orientation and on-boarding stuff in the coming weeks. I’ll see you on the Road!

 

 

 

23 Responses

  1. Betty Elliott
    | Reply

    Marvelous! Wonderful! How absolutely exciting! Way to go!

    • Val
      | Reply

      Congrats Mary!!!! Hope to hear you in Madison wi sometime!!

  2. Susan Skuda
    | Reply

    Congratulations!!! What a legacy you are building!

  3. Debra White
    | Reply

    Wow, wow, wow! This is amazing. Congratulations!!!

  4. Judy D
    | Reply

    Great news, how fun this should be!

  5. kari merkel
    | Reply

    congratulations,Mary. so proud of you!

  6. Linda Cejnar
    | Reply

    When will you be speaking in Los Angeles?

    • Mary
      | Reply

      Hi, Linda!

      I was in the LA area for the last QuiltCon and I’ll be in Irvine, CA in…June 2017. If you’d like me to come out near you, ask your guild to shoot me an email. There are some slots left in 2017 earlier and maybe I could come to see you. 🙂

  7. Diane Rincon
    | Reply

    That is wonderful. Your enthusiasm for our art , it’s history, people and relevance is infectious.

  8. Laura Greig
    | Reply

    That is so awesome! Congratulations Mary!

  9. Gwen Frattick
    | Reply

    That is awesome. I live about 2 1/2 hours south of Chi-town but would definitely come see you.

  10. Linda Shumway
    | Reply

    Gosh, I’ve never known a Roads Scholar before!! This is going to be interesting.

  11. Vivian
    | Reply

    Whoo Hoo!! Timing is everything! Of course the prep and hard work for the entry was done months ago, but that’s the way of these things.

  12. Debbie Holley
    | Reply

    WaHoo! How great for you and your audiences. Congrats

  13. Barbara
    | Reply

    Congratulations!
    We know every quilt has a story and no one can tell that story better than you! We would love to have you in Indiana!!

  14. Maureen
    | Reply

    I live just over the state line in Wisconsin. Please post your schedule when you know it. We will come see you!

  15. Linda Gless
    | Reply

    Holy cow congratulations! That’s wonderful news!!!!

  16. Julie Young
    | Reply

    That’s fabulous! Thanks for all you do.

  17. Mary Ann
    | Reply

    How fun! And I love you are spreading the love to new audiences who will join us in our passion!

  18. Anna Marie Hand
    | Reply

    Congratulations Mary! That is so awesome! I just wonder what pioneer and earlier quilters would say about a Rhodes Scholar talking about quilts . Marvelous.

  19. Charlotte
    | Reply

    Wow! Congrats! That’s definitely a win-win-win-win.

  20. Susie Walker
    | Reply

    Hey Mar…is this the lecture you want to do when you come to Broken Bow? I’m trying to finalize the lecture and the hands on techniques so I can get this event rocking! Can’t wait for January to see you.

    • Mary
      | Reply

      Hi, Susie! I’m not sure… Shoot me or Carmen an email, okay? I can’t wait to see you, too!

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