For Immediate Release: July 11, 2012
Contact: Rebekah Sweeney: (608) 266-3790
Jorgensen’s “Art at the Capitol” Presents Wendy Butler Berns’ “Together We Can”
MADISON- State Representative Andy Jorgensen (D-Fort Atkinson) proudly announced that the new display of Wendy Butler Berns’ “Together We Can” is now on display in his office at the capitol as part of the “Art on Display” program. By utilizing the process of machine appliqué Berns completed the quilt in August, 2003.
The quilt, which is made of 2” squares of fabric for the background and 1” squares for the earth, features children playing on the playground, racing across a field, trying to work together to keep the earth from tumbling down through combined strength and teamwork. This quilt symbolizes the children from our generation and we can hope that as they grow and pursue positions of leadership, they will remember these simple moments on the playground and carry this spirit of teamwork and cooperation into the future in order to strive towards peace and unity and to help preserve the earth and all its inhabitants.
Berns was the 2009 recipient of the Jewel Pearce Patterson (JPP) Scholarship honoring Quilt teachers. “I love fabric. I love color. I love to stitch,” stated Berns “quilting combines all of these loves and this mix drives my passion to create. My spirited teaching style instills this passion in my students and keeps them coming back for more.”
Berns is a local quilt artist, teacher, and lecturer of Lake Mills, Wisconsin. Her inspiration for this piece came from a 1993 family photo featuring her son, Greg, and his fellow third grade classmates on a field day at Monroe School in Illinois.
“This quilt is like no other artwork we have had the pleasure of showing here up at the capitol,” said Rep. Jorgensen, “with its intricate patterns, and beautiful layout, along with the message behind it, it invokes inspiration in us all who take the time to simply look at it,” said Rep. Jorgensen.
To see Berns’ work, Jorgensen invites you to visit his office, Room 320 West of the State Capitol, or check out
www.wendybutlerberns.com to view a complete list of her workshops, lectures, patterns and images of her art quilts.
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