Textile art celebrates democracy at the Vermont State House

September 18, 2026  |  By Waterbury Roundabout

Entry for United We Stitch Vermont. Courtesy photo

This Saturday at the Vermont State House, a community art project will be exhibited on the lawn in a celebration of democracy as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

United We Stitch Vermont 2026, organized by Indivisible Mad River Valley, invited individuals, groups and organizations to create and share cloth panels that depict answers to two questions:  What do you love about your country?  What future do you desire for all of us?

The result will be Saturday’s exhibit titled “Imagining the Future of Democracy.” (The event was moved up from Sunday’s original schedule due to a sunnier forecast for Saturday.)

Entry for United We Stitch Vermont. Courtesy photo

Participants were asked to create panels measuring 3’ x 5’, the size of a standard residential United States flag. Artists used fabric, glue, stitchery, paint, stencils, iron-on pieces and more to create their original, unique entries.

In addition to the nearly 50 panels submitted, the exhibit features a striking 6' x 12' cloth centerpiece.  “This collective work brings together over 160 handwritten hopes and fears for our country, sewn together to evoke the image of the U.S. flag,” organizers say in their announcement.

The event is free and the public is invited to the State House lawn to view this community art project from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.