Quilts & Human Rights

Scott and I attended the Quilts and Human Rights exhibit at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL, this weekend.  It was a stunning exhibit - excellent - and powerful. Highly recommend!  The exhibit has been extended through May 11.  Here is the link.   Quilts portrayed human rights issues of many types, including racial inequity in the US and around the world, discrimination, and acts of violence and hatred.  

I am sorry you cannot zoom in on the captions, the backstories were so powerful.  My own iphone died on the way to the exhibit, and my husband's phone's photos were not very sharp.  I am sorry I do not remember the makers of these amazing works.  I was hoping to have that information in my photos.  You could contact the museum for the details.  

This was about Native American issues in Minnesota. 

This was a photo collage of many (hundreds) of quilts made in response to the killings at the Pulse (gay) nightclub in Florida.  

The story of the Hmong people. 

About atrocities in Laos.

This museum is on the very site where 5 innocents were killed, and others were injured, in a campus shooting 10 years ago.  This is one of 5 memorial quilts made to commemorate the lives lost. 

About survivors of the holocaust. 

Making a statement about the garment industry, and unfair labor practices. 

One woman's journey, after being attacked - from victim, to survivor. 

American Civic Rights heroes. 

Made by Denyse Schmidt, the original was made in response to Barack Obama's campaign, and his message of hope and change. The original was won by a donor to the campaign, and this copy was commissioned by Michigan State University, and is part of their permanent collection.   

Made by Jacquie Gering, called "Aftermath", in response to the bombings at the Boston Marathon.

A powerful and important exhibit, about a topic so much at the forefront in today's news - and in all of our lives.  

Christmases Past

Before we take down the tree, here is a little tour of some of our special, nostalgic ornaments.

These blue ornaments were on Scott's parents first tree, way back in 1943, I think.  And the cutie in the center is one of a few we have that they made together!  I cannot imagine my father-in-law doing this type of thing, or my husband either. He would try, but he's kind of a fumble fingers! These remind me of sputnik!

These beauties belonged to my Grandma Johnson, in Minnesota.   She passed away back in 1967, so they're older than that.  The top one is more "modern" , the lower one much older - and fragile.

More really old beauties.  Some of these have PAPER caps at the top, holding the little look of wire for the hanging string.  We used to have lots more of these oldies, but our old lab (Maggie) knocked the tree down and there were several ornaments that were destroyed.  I heard a crash from the other room, and when I went to investigate, Maggie ran past me, with the treetop angel in her mouth!  Too funny!

This one is old and kind of beat up looking, but I don't care.  I love the hot pink color, and the children-inspired illustrations  - especially now that I am a grandma!

This pewter rocking horse is our most special ornament.  We bought it in Bayfield, Wisconsin on our honeymoon.  We stayed just up the street at the Rittenhouse Inn, highly recommend (yes, it's still there, 39 years later).  We start decorating the tree with the little horsey, giving it a place of honor, and then add the other ornaments around it.   Time to take down the tree until next year!