Stitch by Stitch is a convening situated within a long historical conversation between quilting and social justice. Textile artists have long engaged with quilting and community crafting practices to advocate for the abolition of criminalization and incarceration. Abolitionist quilters have used imagery and embroidered text, as a means of swaying public opinion and troubling state level policies that promote notions of “order and justice” through criminalization. Through politically charged work, artists have long highlighted the intersection of racial capitalism and trauma and the disproportionate impact of police violence, criminalization and incarceration on communities of color. We seek to explore how quilting can serve as a liberatory practice and the role it plays in facilitating new forms of liberation? Additionally, we wish to interrogate definitions of "healing," both productive and problematic, and its intersections with quilting and work of the hand.

Stitch x Stitch seeks submissions for interactive and imaginative sessions that include workshops, co-learning, and presentations that create opportunities for cultivating tools, resources and approaches that align with our theme and goals. You do not need to be an expert or professional to propose a workshop or panel! We encourage collaborations across disciplines and sessions that center the voices and experiences of people directly impacted by prisons and policing. Proposals should align with one of the following formats:

Workshop: participants work with presenters on a hands-on activity that teaches a new skill, technique or approach to creative production and/or organizing.

Roundtable Discussion: Up to 4 presenters engage in a moderated discussion on a focused topic that allows for audience feedback/input. Ideal discussions will feature voices from various disciplines/areas of expertise.

Individual presentation/artist talk: open to individuals (artists/researchers/organizers/etc) whose work aligns and intersects with quilting/fiber-based practice, healing/healing arts, social change, abolition and other interrelated areas.

Co-working group: attendees and presenters are engaged in a full group discussion around shared ideas and interests. These sessions should be organized in a way that connects to the larger themes of the convening and allow participants to leave with strategies or modalities that can be adopted or implemented in their everyday lives.

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: March 11, 2022

NOTIFICATION OF SUBMISSION STATUS: April 4, 2022

CONVENING DATES: July 15, 16, 17, 2022