Kingfield Organizations to Unveil 'Mosaic Quilt' Saturday

After six months of work, the Southwest Senior Center, which is part of Volunteers of America-Minnesota, and Kingfield Neighborhood Association will unveil its "Mosaic Quilt" art project at Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park Saturday afternoon.

Get a sneak peek at the work in the photo box to the right.

According to a VOA-MN release, volunteers from age 2 to 97 contributed to the public art project, which was funded by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council and a City of Minneapolis Innovative Anti-Graffiti Micro-Grant:

More than 300 volunteers contributed an estimated 1,500 hours gluing, grouting and polishing thousands of pieces of glass to create ten mosaic panels, reminiscent of quilts. The images are interpretations from the local community’s diverse cultural textile patterns and will serve as a symbol of welcome for generations. ...

The project brought together people from four senior centers (Park Elder, Sabathani, Centro and Southwest), two schools, and numerous community members who gathered at Southwest Senior Center, King Park, and other locations to create the panels over the course of 33 workshops. 

“Like a quilt, the artwork and our community have grown both more intricate and more beautiful when viewed as a whole, rather than as its parts," Kingfield Neighborhood Association Executive Director Sarah Linnes-Robinson said in the release.

Local artist Sharra Frank guided the process and worked closely with lead volunteers, teaching people how to create the mosaic panels.

“It was incredible to see the level of interest and enthusiasm in the neighborhood, while a little daunting as we worked to make sure that everyone had something to do,” Mary Ann Schoenberger, director of the Southwest Senior Center, said in the release. “Another high spot was during the combined senior center workshop when staff had to translate the instructions into Spanish and Hmong.”

What you need to know about the unveiling event:

When: Saturday, April 27 at 1 p.m.

Where: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 4055 Nicollet Ave. S.

Why go: In addition to the art unveiling, there will be music, food and the good company of your neighbors.

For more information on the project or event, contact Schoenberger at 612-822-3194 or mschoenberger@voamn.org.

Related:

• Celebrate the Quilted Mosaic Unveiling
• It Takes a Mosaic to Build a Village
• Tap Into Your Artistic Side for the Community Good
• Bringing Generations Together

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