By Maria Evans, Artistic Director, Arts Council of Princeton

The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) and Dr. Ronah Harris, who was the Spring 2024 Anne Reeves Artist-in-Residence, have created a new neighborhood quilt dedicated to the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood.

ACP 2024 Quilt Workshop at the Princeton Public Library

Photo courtesy of Ronah Harris

In 2005, the Arts Council of Princeton unveiled the centerpiece of their Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood exhibition, a beautiful hand-crafted quilt made by local educator and quilter Gail Mitchell. The quilt used over 90 photographs to illustrate the neighborhood and displayed the signatures of many neighborhood residents on small squares around the quilt’s perimeter. Mitchell’s quilt was on public display through 2022, before being archived to prevent additional fading and wear and tear. Photo documentation of the quilt remains on view in the ACP’s Paul Robeson for the Arts.

Photo courtesy of Ronah Harris

In discussing the quilt, ACP Artistic Director Maria Evans and Harris discovered a shared interest in building upon the idea of the community quilt. Harris, along with working in other disciplines, is a textile artist who has created and exhibited her quilts and dolls at many venues around the area, including the Arts Council. Harris focused on a quilt design that highlighted the neighborhood’s geographical map which would complement the original quilt’s portraits.

Harris included, during the quilt-making process, several community workshops in June and July of 2024 where stitchers and quilters of all skill levels helped.  Some participants embroidered the depicted landmarks and structures while others cut fabric, quilted, and appliqued fabric until the quilt was finished on August 1, 2024.

Photo courtesy of Ronah Harris

The quilt was unveiled to the public in mid-August at the annual Joint Effort Princeton Safe Streets event, where the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood is celebrated each year. Harris’ quilt will be on permanent display in the PRCA Sands gallery as part of the ACP’s Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood history exhibition. 

This and other artist projects are made possible with the generous support of Timothy M. Andrews, a longtime supporter of the Arts Council of Princeton. For more information, visit artscouncilofprinceton.org

Photo courtesy of Ronah Harris