A community for water protectors, artists and activists who are strengthening our climate justice movements.

An initiatve of Sustaining All Life. *Tubig means water in Tagalog.

Resistance is Fertile

This fabric applique' piece shows to women wearing the symbolic pink hats of the Women's March. They are standing against a background of blue leaves and berries, holding up a banner bordered with more leave in fall colours. The words on the banner read:  Resistance is Fertile.
Sima Elizabeth Shefrin

Gabriola Island, British Columbia Canada — nearest ocean:  Northern Pacific
European Heritage, Older Adult (50 and over)

About the art

This piece is part of a series of images I did after the first Women's Marches in January 2017. The marches were originally organized in response to some very sexist comments by the then newly elected President of the United States. But the idea quickly grew into a movement standing for women's control of our bodies and our lives, with millions of people participating worldwide. I was inspired by the range of creativity in the banners and by slogans people carried. Shortly after the event I heard a news commentator say "This will all be forgotten in a week or two" and I thought, not on my watch. So I created a number of images of women and men from that march standing up for the rights of women. This image is called Resistance is Fertile. I see it as a hopeful call to continue to work to preserve the world we live in, the air, the water, the creatures, the vegetation and our own integrity and well-being as humans.

About the artist

My life as an artist began in 1951 when I played as a toddler in the galleries of Rome. I've been creating images ever since. As well as occasional curating, I have been working as a visual artist for over 50 years, and have exhibited throughout North America, particularly in the area of community art. In the last few years I have taken great pleasure in the Illustration of books and creation of comic strips. For more information and images see: www.stitchingforsocialchange.ca . I am particularly interested in the ways that artwork brings together people of different cultures. My largest project was the Middle East Peace Quilt www.middleeastpeacequilt.ca , an international community art project made up of contributions of over 300 people of many ages and backgrounds. The quilt showed at over 35 venues in its North American tour, which ran from 1999 to 2008. My studio is called "Stitching for Social Change" and my work as an artist is dedicated to creating a world that works for all the people who live in it.

Main Gallery
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