Faith Quilts Project
Thirty-eight lead quilters, most of whom attended workshops in collaborative quilt-making and dialogue facilitation, worked with single faith communities as well as multi-faith and inter-faith groups on 57 faith quilts which will hang permanently in churches, mosques, temples, synagogues, and community centres in the Greater Boston area in the United States. Each piece is a created like a typical quilted bed-cover, stitched together with different cloth to incorporate images, symbols and colours that reflect different faiths. The mission of the project was to deepen interfaith and intercultural understanding by gathering together people of diversd faiths to share their deeply held beliefs through collaborative quilt making.
Communication Strategies
The Faith Quilts Project is a collaborative effort among people of various faith communities in the greater Boston area to "visually express deeply held beliefs" in the form of interfaith quilts. The quilts were displayed in a series of public exhibitions, beginning in late 2003 and culminating in 2006, with a month-long Grand Exhibition in central Boston entitled, "Faith, Arts and the Community." The exhibitions were accompanied by performances and events that explored faith and the human spirit through a variety of art forms. A small team of oral historians worked with the quilting groups to write histories of each of the quilts and to create one-page descriptive labels for the Grand Exhibition. Through dialogue fostered by the Faith Quilts Project, the group hopes to challenge stereotypes and educate the public about the diversity of faith traditions in Boston.
The Faith Quilts Project was initiated by Clara Wainwright, a quilt maker and public celebration artist. Maggie Herzig, dialogue consultant to the project, said the goal is to "integrate dialogue into every aspect" of the project with participants being asked to reflect on their deepest beliefs. The project seeks to build bridges between faith groups and promote an understanding not just of the religious beliefs and practices of the groups, but also of the role of faith in people's lives. The group also hopes to strengthen communication on points of difference within each community of faith that participates in the project.
The Faith Quilts Project was documented by a filmmaker who compiled clips of the process into a 20-minute documentary, to be used to encourage dialogue in the community. The film was shown with the final exhibit and aims to serve as an educational tool about religious and cultural diversity in Boston. In addition, many of the quilting groups documented their process in a variety of ways - through photographs, videos, and books. Press packets were been sent to broadcast and print journalists, locally and nationally.
The Faith Quilts Project encouarges people in other cities and towns to launch a Faith Quilts Project. A small booklet on collaborative quilt-making and dialogue, a 10-minute video, and other materials are available.
The Faith Quilts Project was initiated by Clara Wainwright, a quilt maker and public celebration artist. Maggie Herzig, dialogue consultant to the project, said the goal is to "integrate dialogue into every aspect" of the project with participants being asked to reflect on their deepest beliefs. The project seeks to build bridges between faith groups and promote an understanding not just of the religious beliefs and practices of the groups, but also of the role of faith in people's lives. The group also hopes to strengthen communication on points of difference within each community of faith that participates in the project.
The Faith Quilts Project was documented by a filmmaker who compiled clips of the process into a 20-minute documentary, to be used to encourage dialogue in the community. The film was shown with the final exhibit and aims to serve as an educational tool about religious and cultural diversity in Boston. In addition, many of the quilting groups documented their process in a variety of ways - through photographs, videos, and books. Press packets were been sent to broadcast and print journalists, locally and nationally.
The Faith Quilts Project encouarges people in other cities and towns to launch a Faith Quilts Project. A small booklet on collaborative quilt-making and dialogue, a 10-minute video, and other materials are available.
Development Issues
Peace, Religion
Sources
Pluralism Project Newsletter, October 20 2005 and The Faith Quilts Project website, May 25 2006.
- Log in to post comments