Sacred Threads Exhibition: Beyond the Barrier part 2

This is the last post I have for the Beyond the Barrier exhibition, but not the last of my instalments about Sacred Threads. Sixteen quilts comprised this exhibition within an exhibition at the 2009 Sacred Threads exhibition.

All of them were wonderful, especially considering that many of the women who made the quilts for this portion had never quilted before. I can only imagine that obtaining the materials for this project was difficult.

Jami Burn's work certainly has achieved the goal of helping the women express themselves in a way which reaches out and communicates their stories to the world at large.

Lisa Ellis, who is the Webmaster (webmistress???) for Sacred Threads and also put together the CD of the show commented on the first installment I made about Beyond the Barriers. Her comment is as follows: " I hope that this special exhibit will be just the beginning for showing how quilts can be a powerful instrument of healing in our prisons. And for the viewers a new understanding and compassion. I'd love to see quilt guilds adopt their local women's prisons and provide materials, lessons, etc."

I agree whole heartedly. Think about all the places where people are trying to work through things. Battered women's shelters came to mind, but there are other areas as well where working with art quilts would be a fantastic healing tool. Certainly, quilters as a whole tend to be a compassionate lot and we do have an affinity for collecting fabric and tools. Perhaps some of the readers here might look to see what they can start in their communities, or when someone has to downsize their stash, perhaps they could donate it to a group like Jami Burns.

I have to say, of all the quilts in "Beyond the Barriers", this one was the most jaw dropping for me. Tangie Thomas made this quilt entitled "A Mother's Dream Shattered and Broken." The first photograph in this post is the front of the quilt and the image below is the back of the quilt.

Tangie's artist statement says it best and I wouldn't dare say anything more other than the images she created showing CeDanio as well as the lions are phenomenal. I think, and I may be wrong, that the image in the upper right represents her and her anger. The graphic quality as well as her renderings of the images is impressive. She is a true artist and I hope that I will be able to see what else she produces in the future or what she adds to her quilt.

"A mother dreams for her son. From the first moment I knew I was carrying him. The soft whisper in the night, as I would softly speak to him still a fetus in my womb. The music I played, the first time I felt him move inside of me. The birth of my little man.

The journey of growing myself as a parent; with a son, learning that being a single mom that I can not raise a man alone. I do need the help from the village.

From volunteering at daycare to high school, from the football team, where he made the cut and then quit, to the great karate can and undefeated champion. He was always a leader in what he said and did. CeDanio has always been someone who stood up for what he believes in. When he decided to join the army, I know that was something he needed to do. From taking care of his niece and nephew to helping a friend out, no matter what, and always unique, always the "bull", always CeDeno. Always my heart, my soul, my only son.

Now from stopping a fight to fighting for his life. Now with the frontal lbe brain damage, his personality gone, cognitive skills diminished and his sight gone, unable to communicate or even walk. My son, my heart, my soul, my son, my CeDeno. his is one mother's story.

A Personal note from the quilter: I am in my 40's and am serving a nine year sentence. I have three children, one son and two daughters. My quilt is for my son Cedanio who tried to stop two friends from fighting. He was stabbed in the eye and suffered severe brain damage. I am serving my sentence for protecting my daughters from his attacker. My quilt is not finished because Cedanio's life is not finished. There is still hope."

A note on the spelling: In the label copy, her son's name is spelled both CeDanio as well as CeDeno. I have made an exact copy of the text used on the quilt label.

Sacred Threads Exhibition: Beyond the Barrier part 1

On the eve of celebration our Country's proclamation of freedom from Great Britain, I thought it would be good to focus on the special exhibition portion of the Sacred Threads exhibition.

In late 2008, Jami Burns, the prison chaplain at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville, Ohio, started a new activity for inmates of the prison. The women who participated would explore their lives and thoughts through the medium of quilting.

In many cases, these women had never quilted, and some were new to sewing as well. I found these pieces fascinating in what they revealed about the women as well as how the quilting opened them up. I thought I'd share some of the ones I found particularly moving or interesting.
Soon, the whole exhibition will be posted on the Sacred Threads website at http://www.sacredthreadsquilts.com/

This quilt (above) was made by Cynthia Standifer and is called "The Way Forward is with a Broken Heart." This piece was Cynthia's first attempt at quilting. Here's what she said about her piece:

"I have attempted to paint a picture with traditional quilting fabrics to obtain a quilt that would look like it was made by my grandmother who taught me to sew. The losses I experienced on my journey are reflected in the quilt. A million stitches have replaced a million tears in an attempt to heal my broken heart. This quilt is dedicated to all the women of the Arn Complex who have taken their losses and put them in the past while once again being stigmatized by the simple pink collars they wear--expectations and identity defined by their status as close and max inmates, not by who they are. Thank you to all my sisters who threaded eyes of needles I could not see, who donated and sold to me decorative threads from their own projects. To my bunkies who put up with pins on the floor and being asked million times, "What do you think about this?" To those who lent their artistic talents by drawing and cutting out shapes that my cramping hands could not manage with dull scissors and to the officers who helped provide tools that were needed. Thank you to all that helped make my vision a reality."

A personal note from the quilter: The quilter is a 57 year old first time "Art Quilter." She is incarcerated for taking the life of her son, and attempting to take her own life. Upon her release, she would like to pursue projects involving fabric art and developing desserts for diabetics especially those using chocolate as the primary ingredient.

Joy Major's quilt, "The Hands of Time" is one of several two-sided quilts in the "Breaking Barriers" part of the exhibition.

Her artist's statement includes the following poem:

Turn the Hands of time slowly, turn the hands of time back.

To a time that I've missed and bring those people back.

To a time of laughter, to a time of joy.

Turn the hands of time slowly, turn the hands of time back.

The back of the quilt has columns of the names of the women who are imprisoned at Marysville and the length of their sentences.

The columns also have commentary, little snippets which have meaning. Some of them are oblique and obviously have meaning to individuals who are incarcerated or who understand the process better than I.

Joy's personal note states: "I was born to Sandford and Betty Major. I came to prison in January of 1998 and I'm serving a life sentence with parole eligibility upon twenty five full years. I enjoy reading and sewing. I spend most of my days doing community service work. Upon release I will return to Cincinnati Ohio.