New Paducah quilt mural honors longtime tourism leader Mary Armstrong Hammond
FOX23 News at 9 p.m
PADUCAH, Ky., (KBSI) — A new mural honoring the late Mary Armstrong Hammond has been added to Paducah’s Quilt City USA Murals public art project.
Paducah Quilt Murals Inc. held a dedication ceremony Thursday for “Mary’s Mural – Diamond Field,” the newest mural on the city’s floodwall near the Paducah Convention Center.
The mural was funded by community members and friends to commemorate Hammond, who served for 37 years with the Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau, including 23 years as executive director.
According to a plaque accompanying the mural, Hammond played a key role in promoting Paducah’s cultural assets and helped advance the city’s designation as a UNESCO Creative City. She was also active in tourism and legislative leadership roles throughout her career.
The mural is based on a vintage quilt from Hammond’s personal collection and features the hand-pieced, hand-quilted Diamond Field pattern, which was popular during the 1930s and 1940s.
The artwork was created by muralists Char Downs and Stefanie Graves and was sponsored by Friends of Mary Armstrong Hammond.
Speakers at the dedication ceremony included Paducah Mayor George Bray, Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau Chair Glenn Denton, Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Sandra Wilson, PQMI Board Chair Gayle Kaler and lead artist Char Downs.
Hammond died March 3, 2024, at the age of 68.
