Quilter celebrates womanhood

Two exhibitions being organized by BOWAND are also being held as part of Women’s Week. One of the shows, which focuses primarily on women’s arts and crafts opened last night at the Image Factory. The large group show is being coordinated by Pamela Braun and includes the work of Donatila Chun, Stellie Jeffries, Emerita Gonzales, Cynthia Young, Mercy Sabal, the Fajina Group of Toledo the Youth Enhancement Services, Y.E.S. and others. Mercy Sabal, who sold two of her quilts right after her interview with News Five, says she meditates to get ideas and then she and her spouse block them out on bristle board before they cut and sew the fabric. She says making quilts is a way of finding out about herself and getting closer to God.

Mercy Sabal, Artist

“What I learnt from my crafts is that I found the real me within myself. Within myself I have really found what I am looking for. And first I am stepping back into creation, that’s why I did nude because all women should remember that we are “mother earth;” creation starts with us as women. Doing the nude, going back in your past and digging up and finding yourself that sends you to one person; it sends you into meditation. And when you sit and meditate the meditation leads you to the naked truth and it leads you to honest prayers and that leads you to the most high.”

On Thursday another show opens at the Mexico-Belize Institute of Cooperation and Culture. It features at least twenty other artists including the Garcia sisters.