A Glimpse of Hope - Christine Hager-Braun

©Christine Hager-Braun, “A Glimpse of Hope”
Fiber mounted on stretched canvas, 36x36x1.75 in

I feel this sense of accomplishment, mixed with immense joy and a bit of pride. My art quilt “A Glimpse of Hope” was selected by curators Ellen November and Andi Perejda as one of 28 pieces to be displayed in the virtual gallery of the international organization SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates).

The exhibition is entitled “Words Fail” and here is what the organizers had in mind when they when they issued the call for art with this theme:

“We are visual communicators, and sometimes what we want to say cannot be said in words. Words may be insufficient to describe positive, satisfying, or deliriously happy emotions. Or words may fail us when we try to express strong emotions, retell the story of a moment in time, or describe events that leave us scared, concerned or angry. Our world is filled with an enormous variety of both amazingly beautiful occasions, as well as those that test us in more difficult ways. Symbols, color, composition, or other design elements may provide the narrative to communicate the depth of your story. When our words fail us, imagery can present what we are unable to articulate through words.

Artists are invited to create work that engages viewers in a dialogue based on imagery and composition, exploring the idea that in some cases words are not the most effective means of communication.”

Sometimes words might not be the best way to express how we feel. At other times, however, words are necessary, no matter how difficult it might seem to find the “right” words.

Therefore, I submitted my art quilt “A Glimpse of Hope” with the following statement:

“Quite often mental illness is considered a taboo topic. On one hand, those who struggle withdraw and remain quiet out of a sense of helplessness, shame, and fear of negative consequences. On the other hand, society tends to avoid the subject as it is unpleasant to face outdated beliefs. Words fail on all sides. However, silence is devastating. We urgently need an open conversation about the importance of mental health. Even the smallest dialogue offers a glimpse of hope.”

No matter which challenges you are facing, I hope that you have someone to talk to. May that conversation give you a glimpse of hope!

In case you feel completely alone, here is the phone number of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (US): 800-273-8255.

Talk to someone!

Christine

PS: Please take a look at all the other wonderful pieces of fiber art in the online exhibition and what it means to the artists when “Words Fail”.

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