Sunflower quilts constructed by Janno from patches donated from all over the world are displayed outside the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Jannette McLaughlin grew up in Jerilderie, but has spent most of her adult life working between New York and Buenos Aires creating immersive art installations and exhibitions.
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More recently, Janno — as she is now affectionately known — is based in Scone with her family but is working out of the Ukrainian Embassy teaching around 40 non-English speaking Ukrainian children.
It was a chance meeting with Ukrainian journalist Iryna Pyrtko-Moroz a few years ago that lead to the role, after she was asked to judge an art competition in the Ukraine.
With the country now in the grips of a war, and schools being bombed and destroyed, Janno has turned to her art to develop a “true symbol of unity in the name of the Ukraine”.
She is creating a Christo-style quilt featuring bright yellow sunflowers.
It will utilise quilting patches sent from all over the world — including the Southern Riverina.
Janno’s mum Gwen McLaughlin, who is still based in Jerilderie, says her daughter’s project has created 39 quilts with a total length of 200 metres, and utilising more than 9000 patches so far.
The quilts will be sent to various locations around the world to be displayed.
They have already featured outside the Royal Albert Hall in London, after which they will return to the Ukraine.
Gwen, who still likes to call her daughter Janet but “often get in trouble when I do”, said the Jerilderie community has supported the project, including Jerilderie Primary School.
“I’m very proud of Janet’s massive effort, and hats off to her husband and family for keeping the home fires burning while she is away,” Gwen said.
If you would like to keep up with Janno’s project, you can follow her Instagram page @jannoart.
A picture of the quilts outside the Royal Albert Hall, London.
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