500+ Voices

Always a glutton for self-esteem-bashing, today I decided to find out just how many of us were inspired to enter the Threads of Resistance quilt show. Not surprisingly, the call for entries received over 500 responses. That’s over 500 voices speaking up about their concerns. A quick search for the #threadsofresistance hashtag turns up some fantastic pieces on blogs, Instagram, Facebook, etc. As the show’s Facebook page says, the juror is going to be mighty busy. Apparently, they must select 40-60 pieces from the loud crowd of responses. Imagine listening to over 500 voices and trying to single out each one to hear what it has to say. Yes, each voice offers two images and an artist’s statement, but the aggregate must be visually deafening.

This show will be both powerful and devastating. The power of the selected voices will undoubtedly resound like screams inside a cathedral, some blending into unexpected harmony or countermelody. The silenced ones, those not invited into the show, will remain voices crying out in their personal wildernesses. As I prepare myself for that fate, I am thinking about where I want my piece to go if rejected. I want young people, parents,  teachers, citizens, and leaders to see it, get to know it, wonder about its questions.  I will resist the urge to fully publish my artist’s statement here until after it is declined by the show… out of respect for the jury process. In the meantime, take a look and wonder a bit yourself. Do you ask these questions? I hope you can hear my voice speaking the questions among the 500+ other voices. As the title of the piece says, “Learn to Question – Learn to Lead.” [click to enlarge and ZOOM IN to read up close, please.]

Learn to Question- Learn to Lead • Candace Hackett Shively 2017 • 44W x 39L • This and all images on this blog are ©Copyright Candace Hackett Shively. All Rights Reserved