"In the fall of 2008, prison Chaplain Jami Burns formed a new activity group at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville, OH which provided the participating inmates with an opportunity to express their life’s journey through quilting. Many of these women have never quilted before but their works give voice to powerful emotions and deep faith."
This piece called "Here I Am..." is by Ronda Carmella Edwards. Here is her artist statement:"I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the Seraphim: each one had six wings with twain he covered his feet and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, holy, holy, holy is Sabaoth the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory. And the house was filled with smoke. Then said I “woe is me!” for I am undone; because I am a wo-man of unclean lips and dwell in the midst of people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the king, the Lord of hosts. Then flew one of the Seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: and he laid it upon my mouth and said, lo, this hath touched thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken away and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, here am I; send me. Isaiah 6;1-8He changed me, molded me, clothed me, and allowed me away out of hell fires, by washing me. He sent a sinner back to the sinners so they can see Christ inside of me. God kept the fight in me he just changed the purpose of it. He took my pain and hurt and turned it into love, joy, peace and gave me a job to renew the minds, and the brokenhearted.
To visit the entire exhibit. Please visit: http://www.beyondthebarrier.org/
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2 comments:
You know while I read the artist's statements for this exhibit, it struck me how blessed I am. Here these women had all the potential that I had, but because someone didn't nurture it, their lives took a whole different turn. Such a waste!!
This is moving to see the hearts of women rendered into tangible fabric. They give glory to Jesus. I minister as a volunteer in a maximum security women's jail. In response to the post above, it does seem like a waste to our earthly eyes to think of bad choices that put people behind bars--so much destruction of lives. But I have come to see that God wastes NOTHING. He often has to get someone into jail so that he or she realizes they are nothing without Him. These women then often have more clear sight about their own helplessness and sin nature than those of us who walk around on the outside in "freedom". Many come to a saving love affair with Christ behind bars and are truly set free. God calls us to not forget to visit those in prison. Father - I ask you to bless those quilters who go into the institutions with their gifts of compassion. Thank you Lord!
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