Download Image: Web
An exhibition in conjunction with Art and Soul/PA Art Education Association Conference
Oct. 13 - Nov. 9
Lycoming College Campus Gallery
Fine Arts Building, Lycoming College
Gallery Talk: Oct. 20, 4:30 p.m.
Project Website: https://securityblanket.art/
"Security Blanket" was conceived in June of 2024. Since then, women and families have faced unprecedented attacks. The "Security Blanket" project encourages public discussion of the real needs of women and families at home and abroad.
Women need access to a full range of safe, legal, affordable reproductive health, but they need much more than this single piece of the much bigger picture. This collaboration, modeled on a baby quilt, suggests how issues of abortion and reproductive healthcare are nestled within a range of needs which a just society would publicly fund, and which would benefit society as a whole.
"Security Blanket" illustrates an ABC guide to a more just and equitable society. Our goal is to exhibit the quilt widely in public spaces such as libraries, community centers, healthcare facilities, schools and galleries to spark discussion. We also created a website and a catalog with images of the individual blocks and the finished quilt, information on each theme word and what it means to the artist, and short bios of the thirty participating artists. "Security Blanket" artists were chosen from a national call for participation.
"Security Blanket" is an original textile artwork with thirty 12” square original fiber artworks sewn together with borders between the rows and columns and around the edges. The quilt is 86” wide by 74” high. Twenty-six squares are alphabet blocks, created by women artists based on a word that begins with the artist’s letter and fits the theme of women’s visions for a better world. The media, processes, concept, and design, as well as choice of the word the letter represents, were up to each artist. The four corners are abstract quilt blocks. The horizontal borders feature hand-embroidered words for a just world.
Lynn Estomin, professor emerita of art at Lycoming College and co-director of the project; Andrea McDonough, Ed.D., ’98, adjunct art education instructor at Lycoming College; and Leah Bedrosian Peterson, professor of film and video arts and chair of the department at Lycoming College; as well as Lycoming College alumnae Rebecca Kinzie Bastian '93, Deb Caulkins '85, Sara Mika '01, and Camille Seeling '02, all contributed blocks to the quilt.
Other "Security Blanket" artists include Tulu Bayar, Kim Beck, Valerie Beggs, Nancy Bless, Carol Blum, Lynette Carpenter, Carol Cillo, Cynthia Cowgill, Sarah Entsminger, Diane Fishbein, Cassandra Gunkle, Gail Jones, Heather Jones, Patty Kennedy-Zafred, Andrea Kornbluh, Mary Beth McGrew, Amy Orr, Judy Polstra, Catherine Rios, Laurie Seiminski, Holly Patton-Skull, Kristina Snook, and Jackie Thomas.
We are excited to announce we are currently working on the second phase of "Security Blanket," a series of smaller quilts dedicated to building support for immigrant communities. The immigration themed quilts will be banner-sized quilts. In addition to showing in exhibition spaces, the banners can be displayed at immigrant support events.
Contact: Lynn Estomin, estomin@lycoming.edu / 570-974-1703