Barn quilts — large renditions of traditional and modern patterns painted on wooden blocks — adorn landmarks throughout western Maine.

These vibrant works of art weave together two threads of American heritage: the agricultural roots of rural communities and the quilt-making traditions passed down through generations.

Locally, they can be viewed on the facades of the Rangeley History Museum, Rangeley Friends of the Arts Lakeside Theater and Sunrise View Farm in Rangeley; the Maine Forestry Museum in Dallas Plantation and the Madrid Historical Society in Madrid Township.

These vibrant works of art weave together two threads of American heritage: the agricultural roots of rural communities and the quilt-making traditions passed down through generations.

Across Franklin and Somerset counties, more than 70 barn quilts have been created by over 900 volunteers — 600 of them children. Quilt blocks are displayed on schools, municipal buildings, businesses, organizations, and private properties. Each piece is a bold square in a larger fabric: The Maine Barn Quilt Trail.

The trail is the vision of artist Saskia Reinholt of the High Peaks Creative Council, who began the project in 2018 in northern Franklin County schools as a way to blend creative education with a celebration of rural traditions. Starting with curated designs, she brought the concept into classrooms, after-school programs, and rural communities.

The Maine Barn Quilt Trail is designed to complement the Maine High Peaks Arts and Heritage Loop, guiding travelers through the rural landscapes of western Maine. The locations of barn quilts can be found at highpeaksmaine.org. 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. The trail is connected to the nationwide American Barn Quilt Trail.

“There are over 7,000 barn quilts in North America. It is the largest grassroots community art installation in the country,” Reinholt said.

The effort has grown beyond school and community outreach. When people started asking how to create their own barn quilts, Reinholt began scheduling workshops in venues throughout western Maine.

In these workshops, participants learn color theory, geometric design, and painting techniques that help in creating a barn quilt that is beautiful and meaningful.

Reinholt will hold a barn quilt workshop on Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Masonic Lodge, 10 Richardson St., Rangeley. The day-long workshop will offer participants the chance to create a personal barn quilt under the guidance of professional artist-teachers. No artistic experience is required. If needed, instructors are more than willing to assist participants with choosing a pattern, picking colors and adding final details.

Participants can choose from four sizes of prepared signboard to use as a base. Then they can pick from a wide variety of designs and paint colors. All materials are exterior grade and picked specifically to sustain sunlight and weather.

Workshop fees begins at $85 for a 1- by 1-foot block. Preregistration is required.

Reinholt continues to make sure children have a hand in creating the public art. Most recently, several student-created barn quilts were added to the facades of Day Mountain Regional Middle School in Strong and Phillips Elementary School in Phillips.

For more information about the Maine Barn Quilt Trail, including a map of locations, visit highpeaksmaine.org. Information about upcoming workshops can also be found on the website or on the Maine Barn Quilt Trail Facebook page.