No Refuge

I love the yellow in this photograph.  It communicates warmth, happiness and safety.  I cannot imagine a life without safety, without refuge; having to leave country, culture, language, traditions, family and friends.  A refugee seeks refuge, and in our world today there are more people seeking refuge than ever before.  Yet in my photograph, the yellow stone blocks a passageway.

The United States is known for providing refuge to many, and people are desperate to enter this country.  In fact, up until 2017, the U.S. led the world in the number of refugees accepted.  Now, it is evident that those within are erecting barriers to block people out.  The number of refugees entering this year is dramatically lower than the number the rest of the world accepts.  The faint “NO” symbol on this piece represents a deeper tragedy.  As less people enter, the infrastructure that serves and supports refugees slowly crumbles. It is a subtle, but effective way to destroy this infrastructure.  Refugees accepted have less support. 

No Refuge

I contribute to BeautifulDayRI.org, an organization my brother started, that gives refugees job training and English skills, enabling them to find employment.  Organizations like this need our help more than ever. 

On a quilting note, I sewed approximately 500 yards of 40 weight red thread into this quilt.  I was concerned that it might cover up some of the text.  This experiment helped me realize I don’t need to be afraid when it comes to quilting with color.  From now on I’m going to have fun and use ALL the colors!