Freedom Quilt

I recently had the privilege of doing an artist’s residency at Sou’Wester Arts in coastal Washington. I am grateful for my time at Sou-wester. The space was relaxing and close to beautiful coastal nature walks. The community and space were friendly, supportive, and creative. Here are pictures of my process, as well as information about the project.

A closeup of a Queen Anne's Lace cyanotype on fabric.

This project is a gratitude piece, honoring all the people who help those in need. It is a comfort to know of all of you who help, whether your actions are obvious or secret, big or small. It will also be a teaching quilt, to help those on the journey to freedom learn about their plant allies.

Working in the sun, cyanotypes chemicals may be applied to cloth, and are sensitive to UV light only. The exposures are long. Depending on the light conditions, my images were exposed 3 to 12 minutes.  The Sou'wester lodge is in the background.

These cloth prints are for a freedom quilt. The quilt is based on the traditional flock of geese pattern. During the Underground Railroad one way people could help was to hang quilts that gave coded information. In this style of quilt, the darker triangles would indicate which direction to travel to get to safety. Can you imagine the only thing that you could do to help save someone being to hand sew a quilt?

Herbs from top to bottom: Uva ursi, cedar, and pearly everlasting.

There continue to be laws, and legal practices, in place that make it illegal to support human rights in the US. It is still a world where many who wish to help must do so covertly and fear the repercussions. This is particularly a problem in the world of family law. The UN is advocating for an end to Hague Convention that prevent women and children from fleeing family violence. Current practices almost always send women who flee their country, due to violence towards themselves or their children, home to be tried as kidnappers. This is often done regardless of extensive evidence of abuse.

Here is where I stayed. My family roots include Irish travelers and I often fantasize about living on the road. But, how can you do that and have a garden? It's a tough call. :)

Plant medicine has been historically used to that impart strength needed to flee a dangerous, manipulative situation. Many herbs support recovery and continuing on to a more fulfilling and joyful life. This quilt in progress is made of cyanotype prints and indigo-dyed fabric.

Playing with triangles, here are some prints in geese formation. From left to right: Ladies thumb, blackberry, red clover, rose, hawthorn, yarrow, queen anne's lace.

Working with herbs I look at their physical, psychological, spiritual, and even magical effects. My goal is to help people find the strength to get to safety, to live a life that feels like thriving (whatever that means to the individual), and to have the strength, inspiration, and tenacity to make the world a better place. Here is more about my work with herbs, it is my day job and calling.

Here are some quilt blocks that are coming together. From top to bottom the images show the sillouettes of cinquefoil, bleeding heart, and hawthorn. The lighter fabric is dyed with indigo.