Never has there been a time when hands were so important - clean hands, but not touching hands; yet open hands, caring hands, praying hands, giving hands...
In July 2020 the South African Quilters' Guild (SAQG) quilt teachers who are members of the SAQG Teachers' Forum, were invited to show their hands by participating in the SAQG Teachers' Forum - Hands Up Collection This was an effort to lift the spirits of the quilt teachers who haven't been able to honour their teaching commitments and/or earn an income for many months.
The title, Hands Up Collection, suggests: Include me, I am in, I am still here, I will make it, I volunteer, I still am..! This show of hands has the aim of symbolizing the quilt teachers' community and solidarity with each other, their diversity, their creativity and what the SAQG quilt teachers can offer!
Each teacher was asked to make a 25cm quilted block, using their own hand print/shape and or outline, in their preferred/chosen technique or style, to be part of the collection.
The Hands Up Collection blocks were put together in six books suitable for travel, and will be passed from hand to hand, to visit guilds, groups and galleries around South Africa in 2021, keeping in touch all the way until they can physically meet again at the Diversity National Quilt Festival in 2022.
"We cannot go backward. We cannot erase time and events. But we can go forward, hand in hand, with hope in our hearts and love lighting our way." Sharon Shin
The South African Quilters' Guild was founded in 1989 at the 3rd National Quilt Festival held in Bloemfontein and has been the co-ordinating body of quilting in South Africa since then. The SAQG is the national guild of South Africa, a non-profit association with 11 regional guilds represented as well as other affiliated quilting groups.
Oliewenhuis Art Museum
16 Harry Smith Street, Bloemfontein
Tel +27 (0) 51 011 0525 (ext 200)
oliewen@nasmus.co.za
@oliewenhuis @OliewenhuisArtMuseum
www.nasmus.co.za/visitor-information/