An artful plea on why we can’t afford to sit this election out.
When I heard the news that only a third of people voted in my county during last week’s primary race — and it was the highest turnout in almost 20 years — I was appalled. Shocked. Angry. I anticipate voter turnout will be higher in November for the big election. However, it is our right as citizens to vote. Hundreds of people from decades past have fought for my right to vote. It is a fight fought in vain when we choose not to vote, especially as a woman, person of color, or others whom were denied the right to vote for so long.
I made this tapestry as a way to stress the importance of voting.
At first, you’ll notice the message of the words; and they are true. Our future does depend on us voting. Now I’d like to talk to you about the messages within the colors of the letters, as color has a way of influencing how we behave, what we think, and how we perceive situations to be.
VOTE! Is in red, white, and blue representing our American right to vote.
OUR includes various skin shades because it is all of our futures that are on the line now. The colors in FUTURE reflect colors we see in nature because without our environment, our foundation, we have nothing on which to build. The royal purple can be seen in the sky as dusk turns into night. I’ve also seen this shade of light blue in the sky on days when not a cloud could be found. This is the shade of iridescent green you’ll find on a glistening jungle leaf. Or the same shade of yellow shared by an ear of corn. A bold orange reminds us of koi fish; and a bright pink reminds us that azaleas will again bloom in Spring.
Red usually indicates points worth stressing or to imply a sense of urgency. Our future DEPENDS on it. What we do now depends on what kind of world we will live in tomorrow. The various shades of red are to stress that action must be taken now. We also understand that red can be interpreted as stop. Stopping is not an option right now. The gentle green and blue of ON are to encourage you to keep going. These are big problems we are tackling: climate change, racial injustice, gender inequality. Ease into it. You don’t have to do all the things right now, but you must do something. There is no gray area on this, IT is black and white: Our future depends on it. Period.
When we all vote, we have the power to change things. Vote for those who don’t have a voice. Vote at the ballot box. Vote with your dollars with every product you buy. You’re already voting every day; it is your responsibility to do so wisely. Your future, my future, and the future of all those behind us, depend on it.
More art can be found at www.sewnapart.com.
