FESTIVAL ARTS VILLAGE
Friday, Sept. 25 & Saturday, Sept. 26 | 6:00 – 10:00 pm each night
6th St., between Walnut & Washington | FREE

Enjoy two evenings of engaging activities for the whole family! Create chalk-drawing masterpieces, get your hula-hooping on, make a Lotus luminaria, and take a stroll through the installation, make a mandala, be part of the community “blindstitching” quilting bee, experience Pop! Kit portable place-making activities, and more!

Sponsored by Cornerstone Information Systems and The Foundry @ 304 

Pop! Kit supported by The Department of Economic and Sustainable Development and the Office of Community & Rural Affairs.

“BLINDSTITCH BLOOMINGTON” PROJECT :: COMMUNITY QUILTING BEE

All ages (particularly for age 8+), No experience necessary

The Blindstitch project happens in two phases: The initial piecework (the artist combines and sews together donated materials for the ‘quilt top’), and the community quilt bee. The quilt bee is a quilting action—not your great grandma’s quilting bee!—wherein pairs of participants navigate sewing together while the quilt layers are hung vertically. You can sew for a few minutes, or several hours! The artist will be present to facilitate sewing throughout the quilting bee, and we welcome all ages to come and sew.

Please note: there will be the use of pointy sewing needles, and our littlest quilters may need parental assistance. Blindstitch Bloomington is the second installation in a ten-part series of giant quilts called “Quilting Be” by textile artist Molly Evans. Each of these quilts is made in collaboration with a community in order to consider larger group narratives.

ARTIST MEET-N-GREET & TALK
Friday, SEPT. 27 • 8:30 – 9:00 P.M.

“Blindstitch Bloomington” with Fiber Artist MOLLY EVANS
Meet artist Molly Evans and learn more about the community quilting project “Blindstitch Bloomington.” Molly will share more about the process of collaboration of art, wellness, and educational quilting partners Bloomingfoods, I Fell: A Community of Artists, Monroe County Public Library, and Lotus Education and Arts Foundation. Artist is available to “blindstitch” throughout all of Friday night in the Arts Village.

“A LIGHT IN THE DARK” LUMINARIA TRADITIONS OF THE SOUTHWEST BORDER REGIONS AND BEYOND
Come and make-n-take Lotus luminary! A luminary is lantern consisting of a light source (LEDs or candles) set in a small paper bag weighted with sand and typically placed with others along a driveway, sidewalk, or rooftop as a holiday decoration. Visit the Luminaria installation and then make your own! This hands-on activity promises fun for both families and individuals.

With support from the Sophia Travis Community Services Grant 2019.

LOTUS SAND MANDALA EXPERIENCE STATION                                                                 
Create a sand mandala with the various designs offered, including one in honor our own beloved City of Bloomington!