When I read the article about your planned exhibition in the newspaper this morning, I immediately thought of my Memory Quilt. It is of great value to me because it originated from a truly unique project. In 2003, I searched the internet worldwide for women who wanted to share and preserve a significant memory from their lives, both as a picture story in the form of a patchwork block and in written form.
Form. The response was overwhelming. 86 women and 4 men from 24 countries on all continents sent me their contributions. I sewed a 3.5 m wide and 2.2 m high quilt from the 84 blocks. The stories behind it can be read in a book. Friendship is born from what unites us. The love of patchwork has made global friendship possible. In the contacts via email, telephone, and even in person, a spontaneous familiarity and closeness emerged that touched me deeply. I even met a participant from the Cook Islands in France, and it was as if we had known each other for a very long time.
Friendship is strengthened by tolerating and accepting what makes us different. But that's less than we might think. How else would it be possible for so many people from diverse backgrounds to participate in a project, sharing their most moving, intimate, and often painful experiences? And parting with things (here, old textiles, items of clothing) that have great meaning and value for them?
