Presentation at the Field Station

This week I had the pleasure of presenting the Echoes of History project at Shuster Hall at the Raystown Lake Field Station, where over 50 visitors joined me for an evening of reflection, storytelling, and community connection. Several local organizations were represented in the audience—many of whom played a vital role in shaping the project through their generous donations and support. During the presentation, I walked through the layering process behind each piece, explaining how archival images, transferred photos, stitching, and texture come together to form each garment and quilt block. I also shared some of the numbers behind the work: the average time it takes to complete a single piece, and the more than 500 images and materials donated by individuals, museums, and community groups. From river towns to hillside festivals, the project highlights a wide range of local communities, each layered with its own history, traditions, and textures. It was an honor to present this collective portrait of our region and to see how deeply it resonated with those in the room.