The Mariner’s Compass at the Rangeley History Museum, 2472 Maine St., is a reproduction from the museum’s commemorative Rangeley Bicentennial quilt. The block was painted in 2019 by children in the Rangeley Friends of the Arts afterschool program. High Peaks Creative Council photo

The Maine Barn Quilt Trail is a network of more than 70 colorful barn quilts located in Franklin and Somerset Counties. The trail loops through rural high peaks communities spanning from Rangeley to Farmington, Skowhegan and beyond. Locally, barn quilts are on public display on the facades of Maine Forestry Museum, Rangeley Friends of the Arts/Lakeside Theater, Sunrise View Farms and Rangeley History Museum.

The trail is a collaborative community-made public art project organized by artist Saskia Reinholt of the High Peaks Creative Council. Saskia began organizing the project in 2018 in northern Franklin County. After curating designs, Saskia brought the project into local schools, after-school programs and rural communities to “celebrate an art form born from American culture and to teach geometry, color theory, and painting techniques to people of all ages.

According to the High Peaks Creative Council website, barn quilts connect two parts of American culture: rural agriculture and quilt block patterns that were designed and handed down through generations of families.

The trail, designed to enhance the Maine High Peaks Arts and Heritage Loop, celebrates rural traditions and encourages residents and visitors to move through the rural landscape. The High Peaks trail and links into the national American Barn Quilt Trail.

The Maple Leaf block located at the Maine Forestry Museum, 221 Stratton Rd., Rangeley, was made in 2019 at the Rangeley Friends of the Arts afterschool program. High Peaks Creative Council photo

Barn quilts are also located throughout the region in Madrid, Avon, Strong, Kingfield and Eustis.  Many of the barn quilts are located on private property and can be enjoyed and photographed from the roadside while being respectful of private property.

Saskia continues to bring the project into places where children have a hand in creating public art pieces. However, the effort has grown and now workshops are held regularly in venues throughout Franklin and Somerset counties. Participants learn about color theory and geometric designs which help in designing a barn quilt that is beautiful and meaningful.

“One thing I like about the workshops is that it is growing organically. There are over 7,000 barn quilts in North America. It is the largest grass roots art installation in the country,” Saskia said during a recent workshop.

While many of the barn quilts created in workshops are not on public display, some have been added to the Barn Quilt Trail.

For more information about the Maine Barn Quilt Trail, including a map of locations, visit highpeaksmaine.org.