Tuesday, July 2,2002
Since 1 900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon
Volume 104, Issue 3
‘The colors just sing’
Local quilters are reviving the old
pastime, using it to celebrate
patriotism and other important
issues in today’s culture
By John Liebhardt
for the Emerald
After two and a half months of
fighting a feisty army with
winter fast approaching,
British General “Gentleman John
ny” Burgoyne surrendered his
7,000-man army at Saratoga on Oc
tober 17, 1777 to Horatio Gates of
the American militia. The surren
der was a much-needed victory for
the rebels, and the battle convinced
the reluctant French that these
troops were serious in fighting their
colonial masters.
One local artist is drawing from
the annals of colonial pop culture to
keep memory of the victory alive.
Pene Marquette Bollini, a local quil
ter, has created a red, white and blue
bed-sized quilt
that depicts the
American victo
ry. The red
pieces, repre
senting the Eng
lish redcoats, sit
in the middle of
a white field,
completely sur
rounded by an
army of blue,
representing the
Americans.
Springfield Mu
seum Director
Kathy Jensen
said Bollini has
created a con
temporary up
date on an old
classic quilting
pattern.
Turn to Quilt, page 4
'1;
Adam Jones Emerald
Quilts on display at the Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House and the Springfield Museum display a
patriotic mood in recognition of the Fourth of July holiday.
Eugeneans can
find fireworks
in every flavor
Locals can go to Alton Baker Park, Civic Stadium
and the Eugene Pro Rodeo to see big-scale displays
By Brad Schmidt
Oregon Daily Emerald
Trying to get more bang for your buck or just plain trying
to see some fireworks that don’t suck?
For the fireworks enthusiast who loves a big show or for
the casual observer who wants some hands-off entertain
ment, Eugene has something to offer everyone on Indepen
dence Day. Organizers have lined up a variety of venues that
could lead to a hog-wild good time or a grand-slam of a night.
Here’s what Eugene has to offer:
Alton Baker Park
The Eugene Active 20-30 Club will host the 56th Annual
Freedom Festival in what promoters say will be the strongest
of local fireworks displays. After a rousing show last year,
which captured the attention of about 12,000 attendees, festi
val chairman Mike Clark said he expects higher attendance.
Events begin at 4 p.m.
Clark said he is optimistic about attendance because
two major improvements have been made. Last year, some
attendees complained of a long walk between Autzen Sta
dium — where parking is provided — and Alton Baker
Park. This year, shuttles will be provided free of charge.
Clark also said some festival-goers become restless in the
hours leading up to the fireworks display. That problem has
been remedied, he said, because the festival will now have
three times as many food booths and entertainment stands.
All of which, he hopes, will help pass the time before
the 10 p.m. fireworks show.
“The key is for people to arrive early and to find a place
to sit and enjoy the fun,” Clark said.
Clark said the 685 fireworks shells — which now con
sist of 5-inch shells rather than the smaller ones that were
used at the festival’s prior location of the Lane County
Fairgrounds — will bring in the largest local crowd.
“This is the big one,” he said.
But to enjoy the show, Clark said, attendance is mandatory.
“Because of the nature of how the trees line Alton Baker
Park, it is very difficult to see the show from outside the
Turn to Displays, page 3
Legal fireworks offer bang,
but little ‘wow for the buck
Emerald staff members blow
up some fireworks to bring readers
the unvarnished truth
By Michael J. Kleckner
Oregon Daily Emerald
Oregon doesn’t offer fireworks enthusiasts
much in the way of legal, do-it-yourself enjoy
ment for the Fourth of July holiday. At least, that
was the Emerald staff’s assessment after our In
dependence Fireworks Test, conducted Sunday
at an undisclosed downtown Eugene location.
This year, we decided to offer readers a col
lege student view of fairly inexpensive, locally
available fireworks. We purchased from TNT
Fireworks — simply because of the convenient
location.
Fifty dollars bought quite an assortment of
fireworks, from super cheap fountains and nov
elties to two fountains in the more-than
$10 range.
As might be expected, you get what you pay
for. The smaller items were fun but generally
unspectacular, although we had the feeling
that a boatload of these novelties might have
possibilities.
We thought that an interested pyrotechnic fan
could combine a lot of the novelties (which can
be McGyver-ed into more impressive displays
— but that should never, ever be done, as serious
injury can occur) and a few of the larger foun
tains to create a satisfactory hour or two of enjoy
ment before a professional fireworks show.
We ranked the fireworks on a scale of one to
seven in three categories: Fun factor, artistic
quality and firepower. Read on, and then clip
this article out and take it with you to the
stands.
Under$2
“Crickets”: The best value of the bunch, with a
lengthy display of red, green and blue stars and
Turn to Fireworks, page 6
Adam Jones Emerald
Emitting a shower of sparks, this ‘Crackling Cactus’ was tested Sunday for an Emerald report.