Welcome Communication

A triptych commissioned by the Utah Public Art Program, it hangs in the reception area of the Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Taylorsville, Utah.

Some of the symbology of the quilt, therefore, relates to Sign Language and Barrier Free Communication. The circles on the large tree have the manual alphabet drawn on in metallic foil, and the ground around the tree has over forty quilted pictorial sign language ‘words’. The words relate to what the patrons of the community center might feel or do while they are there, for example: enjoy, celebrate, welcome, curious, dream, imagine, pleasant, succeed, teach, together, community, challenge, group, interact, advocate/support, and share. The tree itself has branches suggestive of a hand, and similarly there are five roots. The circles flowing between the large tree and the group of distant trees represent barrier free communication.

I learned sign language when I was a cartographer, many years ago, and supervised deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing cartographers. I was delighted to be able to use my knowledge of this wonderful, expressive language again.

• Center panel 72" H x 56" W, side panels each 72" H x 30" W

• Machine pieced and appliquéd, raw edge pieced, fused, machine quilted

• Thread painting, acrylic paints, sunprints, metallic foil, fabric collage, machine lace, dyesticks.

• Edges of panels turned under (no binding).

• Cotton fabrics, many of which I painted or printed; rayon, cotton, polyester monofilament and hand-dyed cotton threads; cotton batting.

• Image credit¹

Details

image courtesy Utah Public Art Program