#RSRSeesTheUSA Day 61: Lincoln, NE & Anamosa, IA
I love an unexpected museum stop, and today’s visit to the International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska was no exception. It did a great job at not only showing the beauty and craft skill of all the quilts on view, but also did some great museum interpretation, too. Labels about how quilts are conserved and cared for, about how quilts show sometimes-problematic imagery, about the fraught historical contexts in which many of these pieces were made, and about how to look at a quilt and ask questions of yourself as a viewer. The details on these babies are really best in person, but here are some overall shots plus details that hopefully get some of the intricacy and talent across.
The real magic of today was where I ended up spending the night, though. n*Everland Barnyard is a place where Bob and Xene are making their dreams a reality of hand-built buildings/art installations and paintings and pizza ovens and creative reuse of just about everything. Not only did I find a restful place to spend the night (probably the last night I camped out in the back of trusty Stella), but they welcomed me with a tour and a chat and a filling dinner of nettle soup and grilled cheese. We hung out for hours talking about how to make conscious choices in today’s terrifying world, purposeful living, the importance of art and creative energy.
The next morning (I’m writing this after moving on to my next stop), they offered me coffee and showed me old pictures and sent me on my way with a goodie bag of assorted road snacks.
This was definitely not the kind of place that everyone would love, but I surely did. There’s truly something special about feeling like you click with weirdos whose oddness matches your own. The most magic places and experiences are definitely not for everyone, but you don’t get something truly special without turning some people off.
If I am ever in the vicinity of Cedar Rapids, Iowa again, I will most definitely be stopping by to see what projects Xene and Bob have cooked up next. Children’s book? Handmade picture frames? School bus as rental unit? Specialty foods from the Amish store? They’re all in the works, and if ever there were two people who could make them into reality, it’s these two people who are leaning into living in community in the best way they know how. I went to sleep with my heart full of warmth and fondness for them and the evening we shared that I will not soon forget.
