Article 7

Sherrell Biggerstaff Cuneo

website@moadoph.gov.au — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 02:59:41 +0000

Sherrell Biggerstaff Cuneo website@moadop… Fri, 10/12/2018 - 13:59

I’m a costumer by profession, but for my wellbeing and sanity I stitch and make things. Most of my work is around endangered species and extinction. I have worked with sixth graders on Sew The SEEDS: Saving Earth’s Endangered and Diverse Species, which was inspired by the AIDS Memorial Quilt. I also have several ongoing personal projects including an AIDS-quilt inspired extinction quilt. For my sanity I try to work on smaller personal pieces around feminism and self-growth. But mostly these days I am working on my Mourning Gown, a full-length muslin dress embroidered with the names of recently extinct species. I sometimes consider stitching to be a kind of spell work, or meditation, that with intent, can accomplish much more than one would expect from just fabric and thread.

Sherrell Biggerstaff Cuneo

English

United States of America

American, German

I fully embrace the power of craftivism, and public quilting and stitching projects to educate, influence and create positive change. I also believe we are living in a very volatile time. We need the UDHR more than ever. I say this as a citizen of the United States watching my country in danger of corroding under the current government.

Also, climate change and perceived differences are driving many people from their homes and creating climate and political refugees. As many parts of the world become less habitable, all forms of life will suffer.

When I read Article 7, I immediately thought of New Zealand’s Whanganui River, which in 2017 was given the rights of a human being. The Māori people worked for years within the legal system to accomplish this. I wanted to highlight their success and also support a mindset that appreciates and recognises the rights of all species, and of Earth itself.

UDHR Article

Article 7

Quilt

Red quilt

Elise McKenzie

website@moadoph.gov.au — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 04:14:59 +0000

Elise McKenzie website@moadop… Mon, 10/15/2018 - 15:14

I am an artist and arts therapist. I currently work as a counsellor with refugees and people seeking asylum, and I am confronted daily by the human rights violations that are occurring on our own doorstep, and the impact this has on people and families. I also have the privilege of witnessing people’s strength and resilience, and their ability to grow though experiencing great adversity.

Elise McKenzie

English

Australia

Australian

I joined the #UDHRquilt Project because I believe in social justice and human rights, and I was drawn to the opportunity to express the importance of these creatively. I especially liked that the medium of this project is one traditionally done by women; for me this represents the power and importance of women’s voices.

For my block I used a scrap of fabric given to me by my mother. I chose the floral pattern because I wanted to juxtapose the weight and importance of the Article over more gentle femininity. The stitched imagery signifies the importance of equality.

UDHR Article

Article 7

Quilt

Green quilt

Kelsey Lynn

website@moadoph.gov.au — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 05:24:33 +0000

Kelsey Lynn website@moadop… Mon, 10/15/2018 - 16:24

Kelsey Lynn is a multi-media artist originating from Fort Worth, Texas, and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. Kelsey received her Master of Photography, Video and Related Media at the School of Visual Arts in New York City in 2016. Kelsey’s work focuses on dismantling rape culture and rebelling against patriarchy and, paired with her activism, she combats toxic gender stereotypes and aims to build a community of support, understanding, and compassion. Her goal is to empower women, to give a voice to those who feel silenced, and to strive for gender equality.

Kelsey Lynn

English

United States of America

American

As an activist, I find it important to constantly keep fighting for equality and human rights for everyone. I am participating in the project to keep spreading awareness and fighting back against suffocating oppression.

In my personal work, I focus on gender equality, Queer rights and intersectional feminism. Article 7 perfectly represents what I am fighting to achieve.

UDHR Article

Article 7

Quilt

Blue quilt

Liv Martin

website@moadoph.gov.au — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 05:46:37 +0000

Liv Martin website@moadop… Mon, 10/15/2018 - 16:46

Liv Martin greatly enjoys making and crafting for its value as a means of expression, and as a strange way to soothe and reset herself. Embroidery has become a favourite vehicle to achieve these valuable states of being and, as such, she pursues it fiercely.

Having in the remote past picked up a needle to do lots of cross-stitching, she has recently developed an intense interest in the vast world of embroidery techniques, and she hopes to better explore and learn them in order to add those types of skills to her precarious artistic toolkit.

She was rather pleased to add further meaning to her craft by participating in the craftivist #UDHRquilt Project, and she looks forward to contributing to other projects if the occasion arises.

Liv Martin

Spanish

United States of America

Venezuelan

Venezuela is under the siege of a so-called revolutionary government that uses misery and hunger to perpetuate their power.

At the time I embroidered this piece, there were daily protests all over Venezuela by people fed up with excuses and lies. The government responded using deadly force. Over a hundred people died. In many cases, members of Venezuela’s National Guard were the perpetrators. None of them have been jailed or tried for a crime. Seeking justice in Venezuela’s judicial system is as futile as trying to bring the victims back to life. Now most people are too busy trying to survive to think of protesting.

Word about the crisis is spreading and many government abuses are being referred to as crimes against humanity. With my piece, I only hope to help spread awareness. Know that every stitch represents the many that remain suffering, unheard, and desperate—and the many others who were silenced forever.

UDHR Article

Article 7

Quilt

Yellow quilt