Annual quilt project on display in art gallery allows students to express themselves creatively

Quilts and other creative projects that are designed by students in the Women and Gender Studies 100 class, which is taught by Associate Professor of Communication Studies Lisa Wallace, are currently on display in the Patricia Scott art gallery in Bennett Hall through March 31. The students’ projects are intended to celebrate National Women’s History Month by sharing information about influential women. The theme for 2010 is “Writing Women Back into History.” This is the fifth annual display for the WGS 100 quilt show, and the display includes past winners in addition to this year’s submissions. Andrea Phouthavong, a human services technology major from Vinton County High School, won first prize for her quilt project, Women United. “Since my husband is from a different culture, I wanted to do something that emphasized women of different cultures standing together for the common theme of women’s rights,” she said. Derrik Willett, a business management major from Southeastern High School, earned second prize for his quilt project, Women of the Civil War. “I was in the military and wanted to do something along those lines, then made it specific to the Civil War. From my research, I found that many women dressed like men and fought in the war, with some actually leading battles. As a male student in the class, I had the opportunity to see things from a different perspective,” he said. Julia Sevy, a middle school education major from Unioto High School, placed third with her quilt display, Ohio Stars. “I chose to call my quilt Ohio Stars because I thought it was important to highlight great women who were born in Ohio. Having been born and raised in Ohio I know how easy it is to think that nothing great can be accomplished unless you come from New York, Chicago, California, or anywhere else that seems glamorous or important. I wanted to show myself and others that no matter where you come from, geographically or financially, you can make a difference in the world,” she said. Melissa Carpenter’s entry Roles We Live earned honorable mention. “My idea for the quit was displaying the many roles that women play in our lives to describe ourselves. It is also a self-evaluation piece on who the viewer is,” said Carpenter, a psychology major from Algonquin, Ill. Patricia Scott Memorial Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. The gallery is free and open to the public.

Cutline: Andrea Phouthavong, a human services technology major from Vinton County High School, won first prize for her quilt project, Women United