CROWLEY - Louisiana celebrated its 200th anniversary of statehood in 2012, and the birthday was commemorated by various special events and activities, not the least of which was the construction of an official bicentennial quilt.

The Crowley Art Association and The Gallery have been chosen to display the Louisiana Bicentennial Quilt on its stop in Acadia Parish as part of its state-wide journey.

The quilt arrived in Crowley on March 8 and will be on display at The Gallery through March 22.

Sponsored by Secretary of State Tom Schedler, the Louisiana State Archives and Roland Dartez, executive director of the Louisiana Police Jury Association, the quilt is entitled “Stitch by Stitch, Binding Together 200 Years of Louisiana History.”

Each of the state’s 64 parishes is represented with a block in the quilt. The finished 9” x 9” blocks are arranged in columns in order of each parish’s location in the state, and each one reflects its parish’s iconic features.

The parish blocks surround a central pictorial medallion representing the Louisiana State Archives building superimposed over an outline shape of the state. A brown pelican and a magnolia, both state symbols, are quilted into the medallion. The colorful blocks and the medallion are all on white grounds and sashed in blue, and the quilt is bordered in gold to indicate the state colors of white, blue, and gold.

Each parish selected a talented needle craftsperson to design and construct its representative block.

The Acadia Parish block was designed by Brenella Joubert of Crowley and Peggy LeBlanc of Mermentau, then constructed by Joubert. The block represents the agricultural aspect and beauty of Acadia Parish.

“What makes this quilt special is its illustration of the whole being made up of many parts,” says Secretary of State Schedler. “Here we view the talents of quilters who spotlight the individual parishes and what each considers its tour de force, whether a business or industry, a capitol, a person or an interest. When they come together, they are a giant tapestry of a state with a personality unlike any other, rich in heritage, known for being a melting pot.”

The quilt will tour each of the parishes in turn before being permanently housed at the Archives in Baton Rouge, the state capital.

The Crowley Art Association is proud to have the quilt on display and would like to thank Roland Dartez, all of the Acadia Parish Police Jurors and Nancy delaHoussaye Broadhurst.

The Gallery is located at 220 N. Parkerson Ave. in Crowley and is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call (337) 783-3747.