Now onwards to Paducah, and quilting madness. Friends Victoria and Michael Terra (http://www.terracottage.biz/) moved to Paducah about two (or was it three?) years ago, also as part of an artist relocation program. Now I don't want to give you the impression that we have lots of friends who need to be relocated to protect their identities or for their own safety. Not at all. These artist relocation programs are efforts by cities to reinvigorate their economies through the arts. Typically, the real estate is inexpensive and low interest loans are available to assist with renovations. Here's a link to the Paducah program -
We have timed our arrival in Paducah to coincide with the American Quilters Society annual conference and quilt show. Paducah is also home to the National Quilt museum (http://www.quiltmuseum.org/). The whole town is jammed with quilters from around the world, although the Eyjafjallajokull volcano has disrupted some travelers from Europe. There are some 400 quilts entered in the competition, with $120,000 in prize monies. The quilts are breathtaking and we spend many hours marveling at them. Victoria and Michaels' daughter Xan, a docent at the museum, gives us the low down on the politics of quilting.
One exhibit - Imagine Hope - features quilts by Hollis Chatelain that are really extraordinary and we are lucky enough to be able to talk with her for some time in the Museum. Later that evening we crash a society dinner posing as chef's assistants - Michael Terra was asked to create the dinner menu - where she is surprised to see us again, and intrigued with the initiatives on Fogo Island.
On our way out of town we pause to purchase some Kentucky bourbon, then it's onwards to Georgia. Not exactly in a straight line to Newfoundland, but that's how we like to travel.
It turns out we have a frustrating few days ahead of us as our plans keep being thwarted. Good job we have the bourbon.
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