2009 Mary Rhopa La Ciera's "Patchwork Heritage" Obama Inaugural Quilt
date: label: date made
content: 2009
name: label: maker
content: La Cierra, Mary Rhopa
notes: label: Description
content: Mary Rhopa la Cierra made this quilt on the occasion of President Barack Obama’s Inauguration in 2009. She was inspired by the television coverage of the crowds of people in attendance. Mary embroidered the very small emblem of the US Capitol at top center with radiating lines and many pieces of patterned fabrics to represent the massive crowds in attendance and the distances many had come. The title, “OUR PATCHWORK HERITAGE IS A STRENGTH” appliqued at the top of the quilt was taken from the President's inauguration speech.
label: Description
content: The quilt is machine strip pieced, appliqued, embroidered and stamped or stenciled. “OUR PATCHWORK HERITAGE IS A STRENGTH” is hand appliqued (blanket stitch) and outline machine quilted across the top. The word “HOPE” is stenciled with gold paint on the majority of the blocks and border squares and then machine outline stitched. One hundred 7-inch blocks make up the center of the quilt; each with a red center, creating an appearance of diagonal sashing. She used fabrics recycled from clothing found at yard sales and thrift stores, especially the shop that supports a local women’s shelter. The muted colors of the blocks evoke the winter coats worn by the massive crowds in the very cold weather that day. These blocks are framed by forty-four 7-inch yellow and tan blocks as a border.
label: Description
content: Mary Rhopa la Cierra, born in Iowa, is a retired theatrical costume designer living in Florida. On her retirement, among many other activities she began quilting. At her 80th birthday party she gave away most of her quilts to friends. One friend, the donor, was particularly interested in having this quilt, “Patchwork Heritage,” which she had admired for its beauty and its message. She enjoyed it in her home for a time, and then donated it to the Collection, with the approval of the maker, Mary Rhopa la Cierra.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Florida, Saint Augustine
topic: label: Subject
content: Quilting
label: Subject
content: Presidents
label: Subject
content: African American History
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content: Home and Community Life: Textiles
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content: Textiles
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content: Domestic Furnishings
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content: Quilts
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Gail and Ken Rowles
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2015.0336.01
label: catalog number
content: 2015.0336.01
label: accession number
content: 2015.0336
objectType: label: Object Name
content: quilt
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: cotton, synthetics (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: pieced; appliqued; stencilled; machine-embroidered (overall production method/technique)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 86 in x 86 in; 218 cm x 218 cm