A collection of 130 story quilts is on display at the Denver Public Schools Administration Building, 900 Grant, through January, 2002.

Portions of the collection are on each floor of the administration building. The exhibition is open to the public, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

A reception for the Story Quilt students and their families will be held on Thursday, December 13 at 5:30 p.m., followed by a presentation to the Denver Board of Education at 6:15 p.m.

Created by first- through fifth-grade students at Centennial Elementary School (4665 Raleigh Street) in Denver last spring, these story quilts express the positive side of students' lives: hope, love, joy and faith in the future.

According to Joan Meister, visual art teacher, "The story quilts are inspired by artist and author Faith Ringgold. I asked the children to remember a person, an event or an experience in their lives that brought a smile to their face and a warm feeling to their heart.

"This short assignment grew into an entire school project. When the students finished the project, there were 500 story quilts. The story quilts express the positive experiences in children's lives: birthday, parties, family members, friends, holiday celebrations, weddings, picnics in the park, pets, trips, and even funerals. The story quilts are made from colored markers, paper, and fabric pieces and provide a natural springboard for writing."

Digital photographs of the story quilts are available upon request. The Story Quilt Exhibition is available for tour to other public and private facilities. For more information, please contact Joan Meister (303) 278-8960 or at joan@inctax.com.