"When Will They See?" -- Completed!

My piece for the Fiber Artists for Hope next exhibit is on its way to the curator.  Whew!

This exhibit, titled "American Spring: A Cause for Justice," will debut at the US Society for Education Through Art's national conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, June 23-26, 2012. More venues are being finalized.

Detail from When Will They See?
2012 Jacqueline Bryant Campbell

The following is from our exhibit statement:

"On February 26, 2012, Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old from Sanford, Florida, was gunned down, presumably without provocation, by a self-appointed vigilante.  Trayvon was African American. The FBI reports that there are annually, more than 7,000 victims of hate crimes, the majority of whom are African American.   The Federal Hate Crime Act defines these as “crimes that manifest evidence of prejudice based on race, religion, sexual orientation, or ethnicity.”  These are violent acts borne of intolerance, prejudice,
ignorance and bigotry simply because of WHO the victim is.

This quilt exhibit is a call for justice and a reckoning that our imperfect union strays even farther from its ideals of 'liberty and justice for all' when we tolerate hatred based on someone’s skin color, LGBT personhood or faith.  Quilts submitted for this exhibit are required to interpret the theme of seeking justice and redress for hate crimes in America.  Rather than incite hatred for the perpetrators of hate crimes, this exhibit is designed to influence positive change in every aspect of our social systems, especially within the legislative and legal systems."

Inspired by Langston Hughes' poem, "I, Too, Sing America," my intent was to make a piece dominated by a young man's face, and to make it large enough that he could not be ignored.  I hope that, as Mr. Hughes wrote, "They will see how beautiful [he is] and be ashamed."

When Will They See?
25"w x 29"h
2012 Jacqueline Bryant Campbell