Don't Touch My Heart  

61" by 76"
2000
NFS

In the year 2000 there were 547,000 U.S children in foster care. 850,000 were homeless. There are over 3 million children abused and neglected in the U.S every year. (The Children's Defense Fund) We wonder why they close their hearts and react in anger and pain. Using the common image of penguins bonding, I tried to show the loss of reciprocal love and trust shown by this chick. In its place he/she has learned to hide away their heart-- building walls from more pain. The chick holds a trapunto heart hidden behind his back. This quilt comes from my own experience of doing respite care for adopted and foster children who suffer as my son does, from Reactive Attachment Disorder.

 

Techniques:

Bargello- background
Hand appliqué- penguins`
Hand painted fabric- water
Trapunto- heart