The Pre-Session Quilt is a collaborative stained glass window; measuring at 35 ¼ in x 75 ¼ in and composed of 70 unique hand painted tiles all done by over 30 Pilchuck staff, visiting artists and residents from this year’s Pre-Session. The project was lead, organized and designed by artist, seasonal staff member and student, Ellen Sherry. Ellen’s vision for the window was to create an experience that would unify and give everyone from Pre-Session a sense of the Pilchuck community during their time on campus.

“I feel like this project really is what you think of when you try coming to Pilchuck. It’s a big collaborative experience because everyone is working together. It’s special to be here and it’s special to use that color palette and use the palette of the nature around you,” she explained. 

So, in order to gather as many people as possible, Ellen organized an enamel party in the Pilchuck Lodge on Wednesday, May 4^th, where Pre-Session staff and participants painted each of their tiles. The color palette Ellen chose for the window includes different shades of red, black, green, yellow and white, which all happen to be Pilchuck colors! And the tiles are a combination of hand painted critters, which was the initial theme, and everyone’s unique artistic styles. Additional sheet glass and glass rondels were incorporated into Ellen’s design later on. The textured and colored pieces of sheet glass were from Fremont Glass in Seattle, Washington and the rondels were made in the hot shop by Ellen and a few other artists who were also on campus during Pre-Session. 

Ellen worked hard to complete the window throughout her time at Pilchuck. She, one fellow student and Pilchuck’s maintenance team installed the window in the main office on Wednesday, June 15^th. If you look closely, you can see Ellen’s signature tile in the bottom left hand corner of the window.