
The Essence of Life 24” x 12” Art Quilt 2025
Created as part of my SAQA KS/MO/OK Regional Exhibition in 2024, inspired by the living-language-land project (at living-language-land.org). That project, devised by a small group based out of the UK, involved people in other countries around the world. The result was a set of 26 words from endangered and minority languages, contributed by members of indigenous communities.
Their goal was to reveal different ways of relating to land and nature, and enlarge the lexicon we can all draw from in reflecting on those relationships. The project was related to COP26 (a series of annual global climate negotiations under the umbrella of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)), with a hope of giving a global audience fresh inspiration for our environmental crisis.
We were asked to select a word and create one or more art quilts inspired by that word, based on our own research, experiences and creative voice. Works could be a combination of 12” and/or 24”, either 2D or 3D.
This art quilt, The Essence of Life. Inspired by the word: Tuuca Orodji: Rainwater Pan. Word Origin: Khwedam, Northeastern Namibia. Word Contributor: ǂGakaci Thaddeus Chedau, Mbo.
Rainwater pans are crucial for both wildlife and human life, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions where water scarcity is a significant challenge. By capturing and storing rainwater, these structures provide a vital source of hydration for various animal species, supporting diverse ecosystems. Rainwater pans foster resilience in both natural habitats and human communities, promoting biodiversity and long-term sustainability. Elephants play a crucial role in their ecosystems, particularly in arid regions, by digging for water in dry riverbeds. Using their strong trunks and tusks to excavate, they often create small waterholes that can retain rainwater or groundwater. This process benefits other animals by providing access to precious water.
Materials: Cotton/Polyester fabric, polyester batting, cotton/polyester and monofilament thread, tulle, pigments of various kinds, and cording.
Techniques: Raw edge applique and Pigment Patchwork (my own set of techniques using fabric, pigments and stitching).