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& News in Quilting Around the World

By Lois Marilyn Verma

The Softer Side of the CIA Displayed in Langley, Virginia

Dragon Slayer, (detail) maker not identified, was displayed at the CIA show.

In each issue of QNM, you'll find information about dozens of quilt shows open to the public. Some of these events are free, and some offer admittance for a few dollars. But here's a story about a show that you never saw in our calendar and required not money but a security clearance to attend.

On February 13, the 75 members of the Undercover Quilters Guild opened an exhibition at the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, Virginia. "We're the softer side of the CIA," joked Margaret Sos, one of the organizers of the show.

More than 80 quilts and other examples of fabric art were displayed in two corridors. The guild is open to all CIA employees and contractors, and works were displayed from beginning as well as more advanced quiltmakers. The most popular display, according to April Sayers, another of the show's organizers, was one of five quilts made by the entire guild for the family of Johnny Michael Spann, a CIA officer who was killed in Afghanistan in November 2001. " small quilt entitled Dragon Slayer was intentionally displayed next to the Spann quilt," she says, "to represent our feelings about Mike."

Well-known quiltmaker and fabric designer Jinny Beyer made the short trip from her home in nearby Great Falls, Virginia, to serve as guest speaker at the opening ceremony of the show. She showed her quilt Windows, made in honor of the many people who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

Quiltmaker/designer Jinney Beyer was the guest speaker at the opening of the Undercover Quilters' exhibition in February. Her quilt Windows was made in tribute to the victims of 9/11.

The show was originally scheduled to continue through March but was extended into April when agency employees objected as the quilts were about to be taken down. "I think the show was a refreshing change for everyone here," says Margaret. "Since 9/11, everyone has been working so hard and has been under so much stress."

The guild remains active by creating quilts for charities such as the Salvation Army and by providing materials to the Girl Scouts to encourage the girls to quilt. Guild members expect to finish work this year on a commemorative quilt for the CIA Museum depicting code blocks from the Underground Railroad, said by some to have provided direction to slaves making their way to freedom.