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Indiana's First Lady to join in "Bridging the Millennium"
April 18, 2000
CORTLAND, Ind. -- Indiana's First Lady Judy O'Bannon will join Jackson County's Cortland Elementary School and Indiana University's Traditional Arts Indiana on Tuesday (April 25) for Cortland's "Bridging the Millennium" celebration. A reception -- by invitation only -- will take place in the Cortland gymnasium at 1 p.m. Mrs. O'Bannon will deliver brief remarks.
Tuesday's reception will mark the end of Cortland Elementary's year-long "Bridging the Millennium" project, which celebrates Hamilton Township heritage. The restoration of the Bell's Ford Covered Bridge, less than a mile from the school, sparked the initiative.
The Bell's Ford Covered Bridge is not only being preserved, but also historicized as the centerpiece in a handmade quilt that is 9 feet by 9 feet. Mrs. O'Bannon contributed a block, which she will sign at the reception. Cortland's staff and all 108 students sewed the remaining blocks, which were pieced and quilted with the help of local quilters, many of whom are parents and grandparents of current students.
Cortland principal and kindergarten teacher Martha Winslow said, "We wanted to continue the study of heritage sparked by the bridge, and so we planned a series of programs, including Traditional Arts Indiana's Folklife in Education Programs and a student-made quilt. They're all to reinforce the study of culture around us."
Traditional Arts Indiana, a statewide partnership between IU and the Indiana Arts Commission, exists to document, preserve and promote Hoosier traditional arts. As part of Cortland's project, it partnered with the school earlier in the year to encourage fourth and fifth grade students to explore local traditions by meeting local artists and musicians. One such artist was local quilter Cindy Claycamp, who will be honored at the reception for her assistance in organizing the quilt project.
"We wanted to do a quilt as kids had done some time ago. When Traditional Arts Indiana came into our school, we developed a real working partnership. They ended up helping us find people to help with the quilting," Winslow said. The multicolored quilt, bordered entirely with 2000 metallic, millennium fabric, will hang in Cortland Elementary's front hallway.
For a schedule of events or additional information, contact Winslow at 812-522-7483.
(Angela M. Zahn, 812-855-9954, anzahn@indiana.edu)