The Highground Veterans Memorial Encourages Residents to Participate in Community Art Project

Thursday, March 13th, 2025 -- 10:01 AM

Local individuals and families are invited to join a community art project workshop at The Highground Welcome Center on Sunday, April 6 at 1pm.

The Central Wisconsin region has vibrant cultural diversity: from indigenous Native Americans who have called this area home for thousands of years, to citizens whose ancestors emigrated here in the 19th and early 20th centuries, to our “newcomers” including several populations of refugees from war-torn regions across the globe.

Now, there is an exciting opportunity for citizens to include their history in a permanent “mixed media” community heritage art project. No crafting experience is needed.

Participants will be supplied with their 14” square (12” square finished), a fabric base for their “quilt block” and a bevy of supplies along with the support of crafters who will be on hand to help them create their block.

What is mixed media? A mixed media textile or fabric-based block art is a type of artwork that lets the artist use various materials and techniques to create their “quilt block.” This can include fabrics, threads, paint, paper and other mediums.

Creating mixed media quilt blocks for a wall hanging gives the individuals and families in this project the freedom to incorporate a wide variety of items that reflect their family and thoughts on their family’s journey, struggles and joys.

For example, a family can imprint a family recipe, important dates, photos of ancestors, military photos, cultural symbols, family hobbies and businesses using fabric pens or photo transfers.

Fabric paint or the use of additional fabric pieces can be made into representations of ancestral flags and cultural patterns. The addition of silk items, charms, embroidery, patches and other “notions” can be used to show many aspects of the family or individual.

Additional workshops will be held throughout the spring and summer months to assist beginners and to help them complete and turn in their finished quilt block.

After the finished quilt blocks have been submitted, experienced quilters will piece them together to create a secure and permanent wall hanging, showing how a community is formed from families of truly diverse backgrounds and rich cultural heritage.

The finished Central Wisconsin “Our Heritage” wall hanging will be unveiled at The Highground during the International Day of Peace event on September 21 and will be made available for display at local libraries and schools.

This project is being completed at The Highground because honoring our military veterans, remembering their sacrifices, and supporting them are at the core of the park's mission.

This project will showcase who our troops put themselves in harm’s way to protect and the freedoms they protect, regardless of background. It is “Why They Fight.” Families with military veterans in their past and present are encouraged to represent them on their quilt block.

RSVPs are requested by March 31, so event organizers have time to prepare the workshop supplies. Those who are interested in attending the workshop are encouraged to email Theresa soon at [email protected] or calling 715-743-4224.

The Central Wisconsin “Our Heritage” Art Project is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.