Art has a way of preserving the places we love. Sometimes it captures a landscape. Sometimes a feeling. And sometimes, it tells the story of an entire community one carefully stitched square at a time.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Jackson County Arts Council, local artist Ellie Chase has created and donated something truly extraordinary: The Sylva Quilt.
Made up of 25 individual squares, the quilt reflects the spirit, landmarks, people, and culture that make Sylva and Jackson County feel like home. Every panel offers its own story and perspective, creating a larger portrait of a community deeply rooted in creativity, connection, and Appalachian identity.
This was no quick project. More than 400 hours went into designing, planning, stitching, and assembling the quilt. The result is a one-of-a-kind piece that feels both deeply personal and unmistakably communal. A work of art that celebrates not only Sylva’s beauty, but the people and places that shape it every day.
Currently on display in the Rotunda Gallery of the Jackson County Public Library, The Sylva Quilt has already become a conversation piece for visitors and residents alike. People linger in front of it, pointing out familiar places, sharing memories, and discovering details they hadn’t noticed before. In many ways, the quilt is doing exactly what great community art should do: bringing people together.
What makes this project especially meaningful is that it also celebrates the local businesses and creative spaces that help shape the identity of downtown Sylva and Jackson County. Businesses represented within the quilt include Balsam Falls, The Underground, Mountain Flora, Motion Makers, Friends of the Library Used Bookstore, JAM Glass Gallery, WARD, Snake Song, Tuckaseegee Fly Shop, Meatballs Pizzeria, City Lights Cafe, Innovation Brewing, and White Moon Cafe.
These businesses do far more than operate storefronts. They create gathering spaces, champion local artists, foster creativity, support community events, and contribute to the culture and character that make this region so special. The quilt serves as both an artistic tribute and a snapshot of the interconnected creative ecosystem that continues to thrive here.
To celebrate JCAC’s milestone anniversary, Ellie Chase is offering the quilt to one lucky raffle ticket holder. The raffle is more than an opportunity to win an incredible handmade artwork. It’s also an investment in the future of the arts in Jackson County.
Eighty-five percent of raffle proceeds will directly support the Jackson County Arts Council and its ongoing mission to foster creativity, support local artists, provide arts education, and create opportunities for the community to engage with the arts. The remaining proceeds will go back to the artist, honoring the immense time, skill, and care poured into this project.
The impact of this effort extends far beyond a single quilt. Funds raised through this raffle help sustain arts programming, community partnerships, exhibitions, workshops, youth opportunities, and creative spaces throughout Jackson County.
At its heart, The Sylva Quilt is about more than fabric and thread. It is a celebration of place, of community, and of the power of art to preserve stories that matter.
As the Jackson County Arts Council celebrates 50 years of supporting the arts, this quilt stands as a beautiful reminder of what can happen when creativity, generosity, local businesses, and community come together.
