Inside the Bullseye: A Quilt of Leaves

"A Quilt of Leaves"

Atlanta Olympic Games 1996

During the Atlanta 1966 Olympic Games, Gary worked as the Competition Manager for the Shooting Sports at the Wolf Creek Shooting Venue, and he and Ruth Ann lived in Sharpsburg, GA for five years – two years before the Games, and three years after the Games.

One of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games cultural projects was established by the Atlanta Olympic Organizing Committee and called the Georgia Quilt Project. This project celebrated American quilting traditions through “A Gift of Quilts” project. This project called for two handmade quilts of various designs to be presented to each participating nation – one to the nation’s opening ceremony flag bearer and one to the National Olympic Committee. The project created 400 different quilts that are now distributed throughout the world. During the Games, 397 quilts were on display at the Nicholson Gallery of Atlanta History Center.

The Georgia Quilt Project produced a book with colored pictures of 400 of the quilts.

The cover of the book about the Quilt Project, and one interior page showing eight quilts.

Knowing that her mother would be interested in the project and looking at all the pictures, Ruth Ann sent the book to her. Included in the book was the pattern for the “Quilt of Leaves."

This design was selected to exemplify the “Look of the Atlanta Games.” The design features laurel leaves to symbolize victory and olive branches to symbolize peace. The design adorned tickets, program books, trading pins, etc.

Ruth Ann’s mother, Helen Bell, hand made the “Quilt of Leaves” as a surprise gift. It was presented for display in the 1996 Olympic shooting venue. It hung in the Olympic Family area of the Wolf Creek Olympic Shooting Center where members of the International Olympic Committee and other dignitaries were received during the Games. Helen Bell received an “ISSF Diploma of Honor“ for her work in providing this important part of the celebration of the 1996 Olympic Games.

Ruth Ann Anderson, working as an Olympic Volunteer in the VIP area of the
Wolf Creek Shooting Venue, welcomes the President of the ISSF, Olegario Vazquez Rana and his wife Gela to the Olympic Family Area.

Today Helen Bell would be thrilled to know that her surprise gift of the “Quilt of Leaves” again hangs in a place of honor at the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center at Camp Perry, Ohio.