Lois Jarvis

GROUND ZERO QUILT AROUSES HEART FELT INTEREST ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Author Lois Jarvis' Ground Zero quilt is attracting attention across the U.S. and around the world for its awe-inspiring presentation of the human impact of the events of September 11, 2001. The quilt places the pictures of more than 600 individuals who perished that day in a "Lone Star" pattern that evokes the image of an explosion. The starburst of faces is surrounded by a border of grays, symbolizing a smoke-enveloped city in mourning.

The Ground Zero quilt is part of The American Spirit Quilt Collection, a three-year traveling show of 12 quilts representing the triumph of the American spirit over the events of Sept 11. These quilts have been traveling together since June of 2002. But it was when Lois posted pictures of the quilt on her web site that interest really began to grow.

Lois is an accomplished quilter and quilting teacher, who has just written a book for beginning quilt makers to be published by Landauer Books this May.

Comments from all over the world have been left in her web site GUEST BOOK. Inquiries have ranged from affirmations of support to requests for showings. One viewer described the Ground Zero quilt as "a testimony, not just to the event and the people it describes, but to what art can do in the human community." Another called it "both healing and documentary." A woman from New York City wrote, "while I have seen many tributes, none have touched me quite as much as your quilt."

"I am so glad people are looking at the quilt online," says Jarvis. "I made the quilt to be viewed. I hope it will remind everyone that the loss of the building and their material content was not the important event that day. The individual people on this quilt, the happy smiling people at work and at play, the brides and grooms, the fathers and mothers, the young so full of promise and the old with still so much to offer, who all perished that day, are the important things to remember."

Lois’ web site has been attracting up to 20,000 visitors a day. On the web site you can also see the touring schedule for the American Spirit Quilt Collection and how to bring the Ground Zero quilt to your area.

Please be sure to sign her GUEST BOOK when you view the Ground Zero quilt on line.