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Amtrak Debuts New Art at Lancaster Station

By January 31, 2025Uncategorized
Image of the Lancaster station and a colorful quilt
The Lancaster station, one of the busiest in Pennsylvania, and a view of the “Living Quilt.”

LANCASTER, Pa. – Amtrak has commissioned an art installation to be featured at the Lancaster station in Pennsylvania. Entitled “A Place for Every Piece: Lancaster’s Living Quilt,” it tells the story of the people of Lancaster through fabric donated by more than 100 local residents, using the historic station to celebrate both the city’s rich heritage and dynamic present.   

The quilt project is part of Art at Amtrak, the company’s acclaimed public art program, which presents diverse, unique and memorable art projects to enhance, invigorate and humanize the travel experience at Amtrak stations. Amtrak, in consultation with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), is partnering with the City of Lancaster Public Art program to display this work.  

The Lancaster station opened in 1929 and is served by Keystone Service and Pennsylvanian trains, which are financed primarily through funds made available by PennDOT. 

In fall 2024, local artists Libby Modern and Jill C. Good collected contributions of textiles and fabrics from the community to create a living quilt made up of fabric and stories from residents. 

While traditionally known for its Amish and Pennsylvania Dutch heritage, today Lancaster is home to a vibrant mix of communities and cultures. This diversity is reflected in the city’s aesthetics, businesses, religious institutions, community organizations and public events, creating a rich mix of traditions, languages and experiences. “A Place for Every Piece” reimagines all aspects of Lancaster coming together as a living quilt.  

The project is designed to unfold in two interconnected phases: 16 large-scale station windows will be covered with art-inspired designs of the quilt, which are set to be installed in spring 2025, complemented by the collaborative community effort to create a real accompanying quilt, which is currently on display in the building (shown above). The station’s display cases have historically served as a mode for celebrating local artists and arts organizations through an annually scheduled rotation of exhibitions curated by the City of Lancaster’s Office of Public Art. 

Modern is an artist and designer based in Lancaster, focusing on the intersection of art and graphic design to address social and community issues. Good is a full-time quilter and textile artist inspired by the quilt-making traditions of Lancaster County and rooted deeply in improvisational and modern re-conceptions of the craft.

The installation is curated by Debra Simon Art Consulting.

Posted January 31, 2025.