For 40 years, Music for People has celebrated creativity, connection, and the unique voice within every person. As both a lifelong musician and a quilter of over 40 years, I am deeply honored to bring these two passions together in a special community art project for our 40th Anniversary celebration at AOI.
Inspired by a quilt-making experience that Jeni Swerdlow and I facilitated at the Drum Circle Facilitators’ Conference in February 2026, this project invites each participant to contribute a personal 8″ quilt square that reflects their story, memories, and experiences with Music for People. The response to the original project was joyful, moving, and overwhelmingly positive, inspiring us to create a lasting visual tribute to our community.
The process is simple and open to everyone. (Even people not coming to the workshop can send in a phrase to add to the Legacy Quilt.)
Participants are invited to bring small treasures that represent their Music for People journey to be mounted in an 8” square: mementos, fabric scraps, ribbons, meaningful words, small photographs (copies). We will provide 8″ foundation squares along with fabric, glue, scissors, ribbons, yarn, markers, and a variety of art materials for you to explore and create throughout the week at AOI.
No quilting or artistic experience is necessary—just bring your memories, your imagination, and your unique story. Together, we will weave our individual experiences into a collective work of art that honors our past, celebrates our present, and carries our vision into the future.
I am delighted to share this experience with you and look forward to seeing the stories, memories, and creativity that will become part of this very special 40th Anniversary legacy quilt.
~Mary Knysh