Story Quilts with Unhoused Communities
In this multi-year project Feral Fabric worked with individuals experiencing homelessness, and their communities and local shelters, on a series of Story Quilts. In workshops, people experiencing homelessness made drawings and crafted textile panels to self-represent, tell the story of temporary community, or process their experience. These elements then became the basis for a series of story quilts in support of housing rights.
This project was supported by volunteers, an Individual Artist Grant from the City of Berkeley, and material donations from Social Justice Sewing Academy.
In 2020, the pandemic shut down homeless shelters and Feral pivoted to distributing Sew & Mend DIY Kits around the Bay Area. Made using donated and upcycled fabrics, the kits contained everything recipients needed to craft a textile project during this period of isolation, and doubled as tools to repair clothes, tents, or anything else made of fabric. The kits were distributed through 2022.
The Story Quilt project’s final exhibition of quilt tops and related work was shown in the windows of Pro Arts Gallery in downtown Oakland, which at the time was also functioning as a covid testing center.
Feral Fabric
2020-2022
This project was supported by volunteers, an Individual Artist Grant from the City of Berkeley, and material donations from Social Justice Sewing Academy.
In 2020, the pandemic shut down homeless shelters and Feral pivoted to distributing Sew & Mend DIY Kits around the Bay Area. Made using donated and upcycled fabrics, the kits contained everything recipients needed to craft a textile project during this period of isolation, and doubled as tools to repair clothes, tents, or anything else made of fabric. The kits were distributed through 2022.
The Story Quilt project’s final exhibition of quilt tops and related work was shown in the windows of Pro Arts Gallery in downtown Oakland, which at the time was also functioning as a covid testing center.
Feral Fabric
2020-2022