Community Quilting Workshop returns to Wassaic

WASSAIC — The third annual Wassaic Community Quilting Workshop with local artist Natalie Baxter will take place on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Wassaic Fire Station. The free, drop-in event — which is held in partnership with the Wassaic Project — is open to the public and no quilting experience is required.

Participants can expect a hands-on workshop led by quilting pros where they will learn to design, cut and piece together a quilt square using sewing machines under the guidance of experienced quilters. The completed squares will be sewn into a large community quilt, to be displayed at the Wassaic Project’s Maxon Mills before being auctioned off to support the Wassaic Fire Company.

Baxter, known for her textile-based artwork, created this workshop to bring people together in an open, inviting environment with creativity at its center. “Shared creative experiences have been shown to strengthen mental health and community bonds,” she said. “Quilting felt like the perfect medium for that kind of connection.”

The idea for the workshop came amid the COVID-19 pandemic when Baxter saw growing social isolation and political division. “It felt like people were increasingly speaking into echo chambers online rather than connecting face-to-face,” she said. “I noticed how few opportunities there were for people with different backgrounds and viewpoints to gather in the same space.”

Baxter said her choice to use the firehouse as a venue was intentional. “I wanted to get out of these unapproachable spaces like museums and galleries and actually bring people together in a shared space — like a firehouse.”

When Baxter and her family moved from New York City to Wassaic several years ago, it felt like a “significant shift.” She found herself seeking connection and belonging in what she calls a “purple county,” one with political diversity — something that informs much of her work.

Having grown up in Kentucky in a family that supported open-carry gun laws, Baxter’s perspective evolved after years spent in New York City. Today, she takes pride in her ability to bridge opposing perspectives — an ability that threads its way through her art. “My work often explores the space between these divides, and I wanted to take that exploration beyond the gallery and into real, shared action,” she said. “What better way to bring people together than through the act of creating?”

Working primarily in fabric, Baxter’s practice spans soft sculpture, quilted wall hangings and community-based projects. Her work has been exhibited in galleries, museums, universities and fairs in the United States, Hong Kong and Sweden.

“I create approachable work that playfully confronts the complexities of social and political division,” Baxter said, describing her series of stuffed caricatures of assault weapons made from vibrant fabrics. “Using humor and precision, I reflect the absurdity and intensity of our political climate.”

Quilting, however, is where it all began. Baxter learned to sew as a child in Kentucky, following a long line of family quilters. “I never imagined I’d have a career using the same art form I learned from my grandmother,” she said, adding that she is eager to share her experience and talents with the community.

“Shared creative experiences have been shown to strengthen mental health and community bonds, and quilting felt like the perfect medium for that kind of connection,” she said.

This event invites many hands and perspectives to collaborate on a shared vision, all in support of the Wassaic Fire Company.

Baxter received grant funding for the workshop, allowing all quilting materials to be provided to participants free of charge. This project is made possible with funds from the New York State Legislature and administered by Arts Mid-Hudson. This year will feature an optional potluck to encourage additional community building and conversation.