Laura, Sarah and I are organizing a quilting bee, and we would love for you to join us. Our work as quilters has shown us the power in gathering to do handwork with a common thought in mind- and for the last five and a half months our thoughts have overwhelmingly been with Palestine. I have found great comfort in friends and family who welcome open discourse with the understanding that beliefs and convictions can change and evolve with information and deeper thinking. Being able to talk about what is happening with trusted loved ones has helped to steady my moral compass and it’s a privilege that I do not take for granted. My personal hope with this quilting bee is that we can foster a similar experience through virtual gatherings while ushering more quilters into the act of making protest art.
The purpose of this quilting bee is to bring people together to talk about Palestinian freedom, while collectively engaging in collaborative handwork to help strengthen our convictions. We see the process of stitching a quilt block as an act of prayer and intention, and invite you to join us in this act of solidarity with Palestine. The actions of this project are largely symbolic- a protest brought about with our hands and minds through cloth.
Together we will be piecing quilted banners for use in organizing and communicating solidarity with Palestinian liberation. This bee is open to all who wish to participate, and as three white Americans we especially wish to extend this invitation to those who see themselves in us, as an opportunity to invest time and care into our commitments to collective dignity/reflect on our roles in liberation movements made necessary by the acts of our ancestors.
This quilting bee will include several virtual discussions and, hopefully, eventual opportunities to gather in person. Communication throughout the bee will be done over email, rather than IG, so you will need to sign up to participate. You can do so by filling out the google form here!
I look forward to sharing hope, grief and creativity with all of you who join us!
<3
Grace