James Pinto Contemporaneo, in the Instituto Allende, is now representing my work. Our first venture together is ROMPIENDO EL CRISTAL, one exhibition of many events for imagina 2009. If you're in San Miguel de Allende, stop in and see this beautiful space and meet the owner, Joaquin Peinero. If you're visiting this website, click here to see more.
imagina 2009... imagine a world without violence.
Now, imagine not being able to read those words. Imagine being an adult, seeing the letters printed out, in a certain pattern that creates a word, or a sentence, and not knowing what it says. This is the reality for the women in the campos surrounding our beautiful tourist destination and World Heritage Site, San Miguel de Allende. Under the supervision of Angeles Agreda Peinado, women from different ranchitos have been sewing and embroidering bags and pillow covers since August. Their instruction: a square made of 4 squares, 3 with a butterfly each, and 1 with the words imagina un mundo sin violencia. The butterflies are a symbol for the MIrabal Sisters whose murder in 1960 led to the movement we observe today as INTERNATIONAL DAY TO ELIMINATE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN. Working in the resistance movement, Minerva, Patria and Maria Teresa Minerva used the code name las Mariposas - the Butterflies, an appropriate metaphor for transformation and change. Thus the name of this product line: THE BUTTERFLY PROJECT.
This part was easily understood by the women-becoming-artisans, but as it turns out, none of them understood the words. They had never learned to read or write, even when offered free government-sponsored literacy programs. When Angeles proposed this sewing project to them, she wrote out the words on that fourth panel, so that they could stitch our slogan. Thus began their adventure in writing, which can be appreciated by the uneven lettering that in the states would be considered poor by first grade standards. Today as I think about the things we take for granted, I am in awe and gratitude to be a small part of this circle of women, who one day, just might take a pen in hand and write their own slogans - their own stories. Or perhaps, decide to take time away from their household duties to learn to read, to understand thatleer es poder- reading is power.
You can help these women write their own stories by supporting their efforts, these wonderful products in hand-dyed cotton are available for purchase. Your purchase also helps programming efforts for imagina 2009. Please visit our table at the womens′ craft fair December 5 and 6, at Quebrada 67. Products will also be sold at the Biblioteca, in the entrance to the theatre, where they will be hosting a film series for our cause.
.... imagining a better world, one stitch at a time.
JUNTOS: Artists United to Eliminate Violence Against Women is a group of individuals in San Miguel de Allende working together to create an arts event in observance of INTERNATIONAL DAY TO ELIMINATE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, November 25. This day marks the beginning of 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER VIOLENCE, which came out of the Global Campaign for Women′s Human Rights. For more
information, contact Lena Bartula, founder and director, at
lenabartula@gmail.com or cel: 415 152 3158. Check out our blog at: http://imaginajuntos.blogspot.com/
