August 22, 2005

Contact:
Lisa Jacob, R&R Partners, 702.318.4221
Esther Carter, Office of the Centennial, 702.229.6776

'A Stitch in Time'

Quilt Commemorates Las Vegas Centennial with Nearly 100 Images

What: Mayor Oscar B. Goodman, Chairman of the Centennial Commission, will make a "stitch in time" by sewing the ceremonial last stitch in the Centennial Quilt during an unveiling ceremony with the quilt's creator.

When: Thursday, Aug. 25, 11 am

Who: Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Chairman of the Centennial Commission
Mimi Shimp, quilt designer and creator

Where: Sahara West Library
9600 W. Sahara Ave.

From warming soldiers on battlefields to gathering women for quilting bees, quilts are a traditional form of artistic expression and communication that have served as both historical documents and personal diaries through the ages.

As an educational tool and historical photo album, the Centennial Quilt will allow future generations of Las Vegans to learn and see the evolution of the city during its first 100 years. The quilt is made up of 90 photos that span from 1905 to 2005. Located in the center of the quilt is a photo of the historic land auction in 1905 which is surrounded by dozens of other images that radiate outward with the most recent photos positioned on the outer edges.

The photos were donated by UNLV, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority News Bureau and from the personal collections of several local residents and photographers.

In September, the quilt will be on display at the Clark County Government Center Rotunda, at the Grant Sawyer Building in October, at City Hall in November, and will have a permanent home at the Nevada State Museum. starting in December.

The project was designed and created by Mimi Shimp, a local innovator in quilt making who is recognized world-wide within the quilting community. Shimp owns and runs her local quilting business Quilt Time, and ghost writes quilting books and patterns for others in the quilting industry.

The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District serves a vibrant and diverse community in one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation. Through its 24 branch libraries, its more than two million books, audio, video and digital resources, and state-of-the-art technology, the Library District provides free and easy access to information and the opportunity for lifelong learning, cultural awareness and basic literacy.