Quilt

In Memory of Stacey Sennas McGowan

Description

Quilt titled In Memory of Stacey Sennas McGowan created by Mary Jane Wilkins        and made with fabric, batting, thread, and photo transfers. The border of this quilt is red and black plaid. The inside of the quilt includes photo transfers of Stacey Sennas McGowan. Fabric stars fill the quilt. In the center is a poem written by Fran Sennas, mother of Stacey Sennas McGowan:

"Our hearts were broken on the eleventh of September,      
A Tuesday at nine – an hour to remember.      
A light was extinguished from all of our lives.      
We'll miss our dear Stacey, but our faith survives.
      
With Tom, Ryan and Casey to love and to cherish,    
There's part of you, Stacey, that never will perish.    
Each night we'll look up, we'll see a bright star,      
And know that you, Stacey, shine down from afar.
      
Our friends give us comfort from far and near,      
With your love and support we can go on from here.      
So thank you, and bless you, keep our family in prayer,      
And remember the victims who are now in God's care."

Historical Notes

Inspired by the AIDS Memorial Quilt, New York City–based arts educator Drunell Levinson conceived a September 11 Quilts Memorial that would bring together the work of artists from around the world. Drawing upon her academic research into mourning customs and her expertise as a quilter and fabric artist, Levinson issued a call for quilts on a website she created for the project. She offered thematic guidelines and requested a uniform size, but left the choice of material, style, and subject to each quilter. Within the first year after 9/11, she had received 94 quilts. Over the next two years, the quilts—many using the Twin Towers as a focal point—were displayed throughout the United States and in Japan.