Gender equality stitched into quilts

Quilt Project contributor Willa Davis looks over the square she created during a project session...
Quilt Project contributor Willa Davis looks over the square she created during a project session at Stitch Kitchen recently, which has been sewn into a large quilt to be displayed at the Dunedin Community Gallery this month. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
The collective stitching efforts of dozens of local people, creating images highlighting gender inequality, will be displayed at the Dunedin Community Gallery this month.

The brainchild of Dunedin artist Arati Kushwaha, in collaboration with Dunedin organisations Stitch Kitchen and the Otago Pioneer Women’s Memorial Association, the collaborative Quilt Project has involved 10 workshops and the creation of 120 panels.

"The Quilt Project is an expression of gender equality and the feminist movement as a form of resistance against gender discrimination in society," Kushwaha said.

Each panel stitched in the project integrated maths and art to share participants’ views on gender inequality, she said.

"The Quilt Project enables people to share their experiences, thoughts, feelings and imaginations collaboratively."

The Quilt Project also provided access to participation in the arts for a broad cross-section of Dunedin people, she said.

The panels have been assembled into two queen-sized quilts, which will be exhibited at the Community Gallery in Princes St, from July 18-25.

An opening event will be held at 10am on July 18 and Kushwaha will give an artist talk at 10am on July 22.

Stitching workshops will be held in the exhibition space on July 23 and 24, from 10am to 12.30pm.

brenda.harwood@thestar.co.nz