This quilt is one of a series of quilts I generated following Election Day 2024. There were so many changes to laws, funding, access – especially related to my discipline and my research – that I used my sewing machine for Processing the Policies. Explore the collection.

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As soon as I completed my Processing quilt, the idea for this quilt immediately came to me. I knew what I wanted it to look like, but I’ve struggled to develop the description for it. I think this quilt could be viewed so many different ways to different people. Overall, it is a set of diverse eyes crying tears that are filling an ocean of chaos. The red background is a burning sky, or a warning, or continued anger, or…?

What is driving my own tears?

• How do I explain to my students that climate change is really happening and urgently needs to be addressed, while at the same time those words will be disappearing from federal websites?
• How do I explain to students that civility is a way to show respect, to demonstrate professionalism, and overall is a “good thing”, when this election cycle was filled with aggressive, verbal attacks against individuals and groups with a particular identity or affiliation?
• How do I convince students that data matter and are the basis for decisions that impact our lives?
• How do I get my students to the point where they feel safe being themselves and open about their identities?
• And more…

The eyes and teardrops are appliqué. I used a three-hole yarn presser foot to stitch three strands of black yarn around the eyes.

This quilt measures 43 inches across by 46 inches in height. The quilt was completed November 11, 2024. All of the fabrics, batting, and binding were part of my collection – no new items were purchased for the construction of this quilt.

One more quilt is forthcoming (at least one additional quilt)…