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Colonial Middle art students learn how to become activists through quilting

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (localmemphis.com) – Art is always about expression but select local art students are learning to be agents of change through their work by...

MEMPHIS,Tenn. (localmemphis.com) – Art is always about expression but select local artstudents are learning to be agents of change through their work by mixingquilting and social justice.

HannahSweezer, a 7th grader at Colonial Middle School, points out her skill incutting out designs from construction paper.

“I love how you can express yourself in art and how youcan really use your creativity and you can really show in art your lifeproblems,” Sweezer says.

Lookcloser at the block of paper she holds, and images of stereotypes often facedby African-Americans are visible. Across the room, classmates are turning theirblocks of paper into quilting blocks. Each student block is different, not onlyfrom the prints and shades of fabrics, but the activist messages they chose toshare.

“Ichose stereotypes because it’s something most people live by, but theyshouldn’t and most stereotypes are not true,” Sweezer says.

Thiswasn’t a typical art class for the students. It came from a special visit thisweek from the Social Justice Sewing Academy, a non-profit from California.Founded by Sara Trail, her organization teaches kids to become activists inissues they’re concerned about by showing them that they have a voice thatmatters and how they can use it.

“To be empowered agents of change. It’s not just this ishappening to us, oh well. Let’s stand up. Let’s talk about it. Let’s dosomething,” Trail said.

Fellow 7th grader Sydney Mitchell spends the class carefullycutting small pieces of fabric into flames on her quilt block next to thewords, “Save the Earth.” 

“I really like animals and I don’t like seeing animalsgetting hurt because, most animals, their home gets burnt or chopped down andit hurts me to see those animal homes get turned into something peopleuse,” Mitchell said.

Trailstarts her lessons and workshops with a dialogue around social justice and whatit means for different people. The conversations circulate around race, climatechange, consent, and criminal justice reform. The same topics many of thestudent art represents. It’s thought-out down to the art-form. 

“Quilting has a long history rooted in resistance fromthe Underground Railroad. Especially, it’s connection to the African-Americanculture,” Trail said.

Onceeach block is completed, it’s sent to embroider volunteers across the countrybefore it’s turned into a class quilt. That volunteer network is how thenon-profit came to end up in Memphis in the first place.

OvertonHigh School art instructor Jeannine LaBate is one of the many volunteers. Sheworked to bring Trail to the district for workshops with the help of a grantthrough the RiverArtsFest and First Tennessee Foundation.

“It’s transformative. They’re able to see how they canimpact people’s critical consciousness, raising people’s understanding of theirown perspective because they’re speaking from their daily experience,”LaBate said.

Aday-long workshop was also held with Overton High School students.

Once all the quilts are complete, they plan to display themaround the city.

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