As you might have seen in a recent post, I started working on a new foreclosure quilt for Cleveland last week. I've learned so much recently about the bigger picture of foreclosures happening in the US. First off, this is really about the mortgage crisis that results in foreclosures. Cleveland is referred to as 'ground zero' of the crisis. This might end up looking like a very different piece than my others because of the layers of destruction that have happened here.
Cuyahoga County is doing an incredible job trying to save the town of Cleveland. The foreclosures started back in 1999 or even sooner as factories closed and jobs were lost. The County has been trying to deal with the empty homes and continuing foreclosures by enacting new laws to protect homeowners and surrounding residents. It seems those pesky major banks find ways around the new laws. And they're still at it! If you want to listen to a good interview about it, click here for an interview by Terry Gross with Fred Shulte of the Center for Public Integrity.
As in Detroit, there have been a lot of demolished homes but what the County has done with some of them is an uplifting and hopeful story. There are now over 200 community gardens in Cleveland. For a population of 244,000, that's quite impressive. I'm trying to figure out a way to share this in my next quilt.
This will be one of my largest quilts to date, almost five feet high. I'm still working on how it will come together.
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| Cleveland Foreclosure Quilt test study |
That underlying print fabric is called Forest Hill which is what led me to the Forest Hill neighborhood in Cleveland. It seems the quilt is almost making itself. I love it when fate seems to intervene, you just have to follow.
Another beauty Kathryn. I was just talking to a friend in Columbus Ohio whose home went into foreclosure. Having seen your art made me so much more aware of what she was dealing with. I love how you just keep going deeper into this subject. That IS the power of art.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see this one. Sounds amazing- and yes, always follow fate:)
ReplyDeleteI just found out about your work via the readymade blog. It's fascinating and amazing work, yet sad. Thanks for inspiring me today.
ReplyDeleteStarting community gardens, what a great idea! Isn't the garden fabric symbolising of the gardens already? Curious to see what you will do with the garden idea!
ReplyDelete@Lari - I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. So many of us are being affected that shouldn't be.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much @brand-eye for telling me about ReadyMade, a nice treat! Love your quilts!
@Kitty, the garden emphasis is going to be the challenging part of this one!
I came to visit after seeing a link on Elaine's Slow Cloth page. Will be back many times - thank you for a delightful blog that is full of interest and inspiration.
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