THE DAILY LEADER / JUSTIN VICORY / Jacque Coons (from left) and Brookhaven Regional Arts Guild secretary/treasurer Caroline Kluge display one of 36 quilts during Thursday afternoon’s quilt turning and reception at the Lincoln County Library. BRAG joined with the Piecemakers Quilting Guild in putting on the quilt show this month.

“They are art pieces, all of them,” said Sue Minter, president of the Brookhaven Regional Arts Guild, as she admired the colorful display in this month’s Piecemakers Quilting Guild Show Thursday afternoon. BRAG joined with the Quilting Guild in putting on the event.

The intricacies of the colorful works of art took center stage at a quilt-turning event at a reception in the Lincoln County Public Library’s Vernon Room Thursday afternoon. As each quilt was held up for to allow the crowd to fully see its beauty, the history of the work was related to the crowd of art admirers on hand for the reception.

While the quilts have been on display at the library all month, show organizers and participants officially displayed 36 quilts, one after another at Thursday’s reception. Quilt designers were on hand to take credit for their creative mosaics of cloth.

“The quilt is a sandwich,” BRAG secretary/treasurer Caroline Kluge said. “There are three separate layers involved, limited only by the time and resources of the artist.”

Quilts were more than a work of art in early colonial days, Kluge added. “The first colonists brought quilts and quilt-making techniques with them when they came to America. After all, there were no blanket factories here.”

Since the early days of America, quilt-building techniques have been handed down from generation to generation. With the advent of quick and convenient other kinds of ready-made, store-bought bed coverings, the quilting guild is just one of hundreds of groups nationwide determined to prevent quilting from becoming a lost art.

This month’s show and reception also provided an opportunity for BRAG and the quilting guild to get to know one another better. “I think it went really well,” said Minter.

After the quilt show, BRAG members held their first meeting of the new year to review guild bylaws, elect one guild officer and determine future artistic endeavors.

Rita Rich was accepted by acclimation to take over as activities chairman for the guild, a position formerly occupied by Dixie Simmons.

BRAG members then went on to offer suggestions for future events. Among suggestions were a possible art walk in downtown Brookhaven, an “art in the park” event and/or an “artist of the month” contest.

BRAG is still accepting members, Minter noted. Individuals do not have to be artists themselves to join – an interest in the art is all that is needed.

“If you don’t feel like you fit in, we can find a spot for you,” said Nancy Hank-Myers, BRAG publicity chairman.

Formed in early November 2013, BRAG members elected guild positions, then set a date in January for their first official meeting.

BRAG then partnered with the quilting guild, a local group of artists that meets in the library, to co-sponsor January’s show and Thursday night’s event.

BRAG’s next meeting will be the third Thursday in February at the library.

For further information about BRAG, send emails to brookhavenregionalartguild@gmail.com.