While there isn’t quite a barn to raise, Visions Art Quilt Gallery has been calling on the community to join in its “barn raising.”
The nonprofit Quilt Visions, which was created in 1985 to celebrate the art of quilting, is in the process of renovating its new space at the former Naval Training Center. And according to Patti Sevier, co-project manager of the gallery build, the organization could not complete the endeavor without help from volunteers and donors.
“This is a whole new adventure for us,” Patti Sevier, co-manager of the gallery build, said. “We’ve always had a large volunteer network that we called on every two years or so “¦ now we’ve been calling on them all the time.”
And the volunteers came through. The barn raising “” or community build “” began in February and will continue through the scheduled grand opening Saturday, April 14.
Sevier said that while quilts have been around for generations, they have become more art than quilt.
Quilt Visions defines an art quilt as anything made out of fiber or fabric, has three layers, and is stitched all the way through. Beyond that, she said, it’s up to the artist
The final space, which Sevier promises will continuously evolve, is set to include a gift shop, offices, a resource library and a space for workshops, lectures, kid’s activities and demonstrations.
For the past several weeks, Quilt Visions members, friends, family and construction professionals have donated time, money and talent to create the unique gallery.
The volunteers, Sevier estimated, total in the hundreds and comprise a group ranging in age from 14 to 80.
Architect, art quilter and Quilt Visions board member Bob Leathers brought 37 years of experience to the gallery project. Leathers and his family business, Leathers and Associates, boast more than 1800 custom designed, community built projects all over the world, each one “completely organized and built by volunteers.
“It’s all about building community. When you work as a community, you come up with unique solutions,” he said. “In addition, you end up with quality that you wouldn’t get if you did it commercially.”

This gallery promises to be different than any other gallery, said Leathers, who also serves as exhibit committee chairman.
“[It’s] different because it’s built with love and community and a lot of very fine attention “” meaning the people who build it are willing to take the time,” he added. “They’re willing to stick with it and do things that require a great deal of patience, and that would cost a lot of money if you had to pay for it.”
Sevier, a past president of Quilt Visions, laughed that everyone in the group finagled to get volunteers involved.
“It has truly been a total team effort,” she added.
The group has received assistance from professional builders, craftsmen and students. Generous contributors include Dean Marriott of McCormack Construction Company, who donated the time and manpower to frame interior wall partitions. Frazee Paint donated paint; carpenter Dana Cavanaugh contributed time and expertise; and Dixieline San Diego of Sports Arena supplied greatly discounted building materials.
Additionally, members of the Fine Woodworkers Association created a donor wall consisting of 4500 wood blocks resembling a quilt-like design, and students from a Riverside high school will engrave donor names.
Other contributors include Jesse Foster, a woodworking student from San Diego State University, who is building the reception desk, and architect intern Nicole Deline.
The completion deadline looms with the first exhibit at the new gallery scheduled for Saturday, April 14. It will feature the works of quilt artist Miriam Nathan-Roberts. The opening reception takes place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and the exhibit runs until June 3 at the gallery, 2825 Dewey Road.
“We encourage everybody to come down, explore the arts or volunteer,” Sevier concluded.
For more information, visit www.quiltvisions.org or call 858-484-5201.