North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center to present historical tapestries

The tapestries on display explore the history and culture of the San Juan Ridge.

This is the first in a series of tapestries intended to express the history and culture of the San Juan Ridge and its meaning as a place. It was conceived and organized as a community project by long-time Ridge resident and notable weaver Marsha Stone.

By Shana Maziarz

Executive Director

 The North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center is pleased to present the community tapestry “Fall Celebration on the Ridge.”

 This is the first in a series of tapestries intended to express the history and culture of the San Juan Ridge and its meaning as a place. It was conceived and organized as a community project by long-time Ridge resident and notable weaver Marsha Stone.

 Marsha was joined by two other Ridge residents, artist Jennifer Crosby who created the basic detailed illustration, and fiber artist Mary Moore, renowned for the many beautiful quilts she has created and donated for community causes.

 The three artists began their project in 2008 and were assisted by 32 others, of all ages and skill levels, whose needlework completed the tapestry in 2010.This is its first public presentation.

 Fall Celebration is modeled after the famous medieval Bayeaux Tapestry depicting the Battle of Hastings in 1066 after which England emerged as a nation. To this day it is displayed at Bayeaux, France, home of the Norman invaders of England.

 Like its model, Fall Celebration shows in meticulously detailed stitching the background scenery, events, and even physical characteristics of the people whose historical moment has been captured. While the Bayeaux Tapestry is 220 feet long, Fall Celebration is 3 feet by 12 feet in length.

 It too will be hung on occasion for certain North Columbia Cultural Center events. When the rest of the series of tapestries planned by the Ridge History Tapestry Project and its community participants is completed, the entire main room of the Cultural Center will be wrapped in 15 similar fiber creations depicting our past, present, and hopes.

 Themes to be depicted will include landscapes and landforms, what and who came before, old and new meeting on the Ridge, owner built homes and living, the night, and others still tempting the imagination.

 The events documented in Fall Celebration take place at an annual Halloween gathering that has taken place on the San Juan Ridge continuously for 40 years.

 The tapestry will be on display at the North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center from Feb. 13 to Feb. 25  The North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center is located at 17894 Tyler Foote Road on the San Juan Ridge.  For more information, call 530-265-2826 for more information.