Artists Wrap Farm Greenhouse in Giant Quilt for Minneapolis Art Festival

The Quilt Shanty installation on Lake Harriet invites visitors to engage with rural craft traditions.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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As part of the 20th anniversary of the Art Shanty Projects festival in Minneapolis, artists Emily Quandahl and Madeline Cochran were commissioned to create an interactive installation called the Quilt Shanty. The structure is a hoop house, a type of greenhouse used on farms, that has been completely wrapped in a large, colorful patchwork quilt. Visitors can sit inside the quilt-covered structure and assemble their own quilt square designs using puzzle pieces designed by the artists.

Why it matters

The Quilt Shanty celebrates rural craft traditions like quilting, embroidery, woodcarving, and wood burning, while also highlighting the seasonal cycles of rest and care on the land during the winter months. By placing this agricultural structure on the frozen surface of Lake Harriet, the artists are drawing connections between the dormancy of the land and the warmth of human creativity.

The details

The quilt itself measures 9 feet by 16 feet and was handmade by Emily Quandahl using materials from her own studio, including leftover painting scraps, drop cloth, and colored vinyl. Madeline Cochran contributed illustrated muslin pieces featuring folk-style drawings, as well as wood-burned quilt tiles that add texture and craft to the installation. The interactive element allows visitors to assemble their own quilt square designs using puzzle pieces designed by the artists.

  • The Art Shanty Projects festival takes place over four consecutive weekends each winter in Minneapolis.
  • The 2026 festival, which marks the 20th anniversary of the event, is currently underway.

The players

Emily Quandahl

An artist who works primarily in painting and was commissioned to create the quilt portion of the Quilt Shanty installation.

Madeline Cochran

An artist who works in a multimedia approach incorporating textiles and weaving, and contributed the illustrated and wood-burned elements to the Quilt Shanty.

Art Shanty Projects

An annual winter festival in Minneapolis that transforms the frozen surface of Lake Harriet into an art village, featuring artist-built structures, performances, and interactive installations.

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What they’re saying

“The quilt itself measures 9 feet by 16 feet and is made from quilt squares that Quandahl designed and constructed by hand, pulling materials from her own studio: leftover painting scraps, drop cloth, and colored vinyl.”

— Emily Quandahl, Artist (yankodesign.com)

“Cochran contributed illustrated muslin pieces featuring folk-style drawings, as well as wood-burned quilt tiles that add another layer of texture and craft to the whole thing.”

— Madeline Cochran, Artist (yankodesign.com)

What’s next

The Quilt Shanty installation will be on display at the Art Shanty Projects festival on Lake Harriet in Minneapolis throughout the month of February 2026.

The takeaway

The Quilt Shanty is a charming and interactive public art installation that celebrates rural craft traditions and the seasonal cycles of the land, inviting visitors to slow down and engage with the work in a hands-on way. It's a perfect example of how public art can bring community together and foster appreciation for overlooked skills and practices.