Stitching Mesa Together Community through Making

September 14, 2019 - Jan 4, 2020  

Featuring the 1918 Mesa Red Cross Quilt, this exhibit showcases how participating in crafts has helped to build community. From quilting and knitting, to weaving and basketry, crafts have been an integral part of group activity. These groups have in many cases become essential community support mechanisms in times of need, while other crafts, saddlery and metal work, have contributed to community celebrations. This exhibit, taken from the museum’s permanent collections, shows examples of these and other crafts dating from the very first years of settlement in Mesa.

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this exhibit will feature crafting demonstrations almost every Saturday. check out some of our crafters below

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Ron  Carlos- Paddle and Anvil Pottery

Copyright: The Heard Museum

Ron Carlos is a Pima (Akimel O'odham) artist. He is possibly the last master of the technique of Paddle and Anvil pottery making still active in the Salt River Valley. This technique dates back to the ancient Hohokam people of the valley and produces an exceptionally thin, fine grained ceramic wall on the vessel. Ron's work will be on display and for sale in our shop during the Stitching Mesa Together  exhibit.

Jennifer Arnold -Leather

Telaraña Fiber Arts Guild

 weaving, spinning, basketry, knitting, crochet, 

lace-making, felting, dyeing and more!

Lacey Ladies of Arizona -Lace

Starlight Stitchers -Embroidery

Arizona Quilters Hall of Fame

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Demonstration dates found in calendar below!

Museum Store Friday & Saturday!

For the third year in a row, on Sunday, December 1, 2019, the Museum Store Association (MSA) celebrates Museum Store Sunday, the signature annual international event and consumer shopping campaign that directly supports arts and cultural institutions around the world. Since the Mesa Historical Museum is not open on Sundays, we are doing our campaign on Friday and Saturday instead.

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At the Mesa Historical Museum we have items handcrafted by local crafters such as felted hats, scarves, boots, bags, and clothing along with handmade quilts, leather goods, baskets, jewelry, Pima pottery, and much more! By doing your holiday shopping at the Mesa Historical Museum, you not only support the museum but these local artists as well!

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The Mesa Historical Museum is going to have a deal on our Museum Day Friday & Saturday (Nov. 29-30) where if you purchase $40 worth of gift shop items, you get free admission to the museum!

Check out some of the handcrafted items we have in our shop!

For groups of 5 or more we offer docent led tours of the current exhibit. The tour includes special content about the exhibit in particular, and Mesa History in general. The tour is also appropriate and approachable for children. Groups of 10 or more are only $3 per person. Call us at 480-835-2286 or e-mail us at info@mesamuseum.org to make arrangements today.

You may also fill out a group tour request form by clicking on this button: