Library Quilt Looks Like Stained Glass

You probably won’t believe it’s a quilt.

The Barrington Public Library has received on permanent loan a quilt that looks more like painting on fabric. Or stained glass. It hangs just inside the front door on the right. 

The quilt was created by Sally Boynton of South Kingstown, whose best friend is the weekend children’s librarian. That’s how Debbie Barchi, Barrington’s library director, discovered Boynton and her quilts.

“Sally just decided she'd like to make and donate the handmade quilt to Barrington library,” said Barchi. “We will mostly use it in winter to help shelter the staff and public from some of the strong arctic blasts that come in through our doors. “ 

Boynton is a 1973 Rhode Island School of Design graduate in sculpture and painting.

“I like to work large,” she said. “It’s hard to move paintings, so I began painting on fabric. About 12 years ago, I started making quilts.”

Boynton actually works as an occupational therapist. She gives away most of her creations.

“There’s really no money in quilting,” she said. “But I like to have them seen and explored. And it is very functional art.”

Material for her quilts comes from all over the world, she said. The quilt hanging in the library includes material from Africa, Aboriginal Australia and Japan.

Boynton began making the quilt in January after showing several designs to Barchi and other staff members.  Barchi said the library will show it for a couple of weeks and then pack it away until those cold-weather blasts return.