Quilts uncover hidden topic
Sometimes, beautiful art can expose some of the ugliest parts of our humanity. In a powerful traveling fiber arts exhibit, showing in Lincoln City’s Fiber Arts Studio Gallery from Friday, June 24 through August 21, the artists ask the viewer to “Let Me Tell You About Fistula.”
The poignant demonstration was designed and created by fistula survivors in Kenya, who are using art to document the devastating condition, primarily caused by long labors, sexual assault and gynecological surgery, that leaves women incontinent, socially stigmatized and in great suffering. Grinding poverty, the low status of women, malnutrition, childhood marriage and lack of access to emergency maternity care all contribute to long labors.
A primary reason more than a million women worldwide suffer from fistula is because they do not know that surgical treatment is an option.
The quilts were created by a collaboration of women who endured the shame and pain of fistula and, through surgical repair, have been able to enjoy life again.
Using fabric collage, applique and embroidery, these quilts tell a compelling story as survivors have found a way to speak through the art of quilting.
The exhibition is a partnership between Fistula Foundation, an international nonprofit that treats obstetric fistula, and Quilts for Empowerment, a nonprofit that supports the reintegration of survivors in Kenya with the goal to raise awareness and educate the public.
Survivors in Kenya identified the seven most important stories that they believe everyone should know about this devastating injury. The women collectively decided on the content and images for each of these stories, which became the exhibition’s seven quilt panels. The women did all the appliqué and hand embroidery in Kenya. In the United States, the panels were machine quilted onto felt and mounted on canvas stretcher frames.
Though the main quilts are not for sale, there will be 24 small quilts that will be for sale that have been finished with fabric edges and stretched over canvas frames. Each has a hanging wire on the back and a photo and brief story about the quilter who made it. All proceeds from sales will go directly to funding the non-profit program for fistula survivors in Kenya.
Joining a fistula survivor support group after treatment is one way to continue emotional healing, end isolation, and find solidarity with other women. All of the women participating in Quilts for Empowerment belong to a support group that meets monthly.
The Fiber Arts Studio Gallery is located inside the Lincoln City Cultural Center at 540 NE Hwy. 101 and is open from 10 am to 4 pm, Thursday through Sunday.
For more information, go to lincolncity-culturalcenter.org or call 541-994-9994.