From Butterflies for Hope to the Maine RBG Collar

It began with Covid; for weeks we had been hearing of the virus in China, which had traveled to Italy and through Europe and then on to New York and eventually shut down most of the United States and much of the world. Thus hurting economically millions of people.

So I was trying to think of away to connect with friends and family in an upbeat way during this challenging time. As it was close to Easter, what came to mind , inspired by the story of the young Japanese woman who folded origami peace cranes, was to fold daily a butterfly for hope. My initial idea was to inspire communities to have installations where people could come share their thoughts on hope or ideas on how to help each other ,when many of us were falling victim to the virus. This idea never came to be, but perhaps, someday in the future it may happen . There is an extraordinary exhibition of 2,000 peace doves at the National Cathedral in Washington , D.C. at this very moment!

And so what began were daily posts to friends of butterflies , which eventually became short stories incorporating current events and the butterflies. It was a time when our spirits definitely needed uplifting, as we struggled with months of despair, wondering if we would ever have a vaccine , see our loved ones again or see the children return to school. It turned out to keep many contacts going and a creative way to stay occupied during Covid.

Spring came and went and the summer passed and we still had no vaccine and the news and everyone's anxiety turned to the 2020 election Presidential race between incumbent President Donald Trump and the democratic candidate Joseph Biden. Much of society was still shut down...the numbers of butterflies folded continued to grow! They became cards and were sent out to everyone I could think of and helped the USPS during a time of great difficulty for postal workers.In my opinion a homemade card makes all the difference in this digital world, showing care and artistry!

We headed into fall and then on September 18th , 2020 , Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away. A champion for the rights for women and minorities, this left a vacancy on the Supreme Court. It was a blow to those hoping her legacy would survive through the election. The out pouring of grief across the country was profound. On the covers of many major news publication were images of the collars Justice Ginsburg wore while in Court!

So the butterflies went through another transformation and became a Ruth Bader Ginsburg Collar, gathering together along with pressed flowers to honor an extraordinary American. They became symbol of the hope that she brought to minorities and women of this country. After her death the public became more aware of the variety and symbolism of the collars she wore in court.

I have been a textile artist in Maine for the past forty years , weaving mostly functional pieces using merino wool and silk. Being an artist in Maine, inspired the idea for a RGB Maine collar and as I walked the woods I realized the lichen covered branches were lace like , so the first collar was created from lichen covered branches, pressed plant material, acorn caps, and origami butterflies and owls! It was well received.

I began to feel that strong traditional industries in Maine , were much like the career of Ruth Bader Ginsburg; they are both steeped in hard work and dedication. As I thought about the the fishing industry , I was inspired by the nets and the netting technique used in the lobster traps. It is a textile art in it's own right! I have also sold the work of all the native American tribes of Maine...many of them made of birch bark...a beautiful material! So these last collars are a combination of the netting technique, birch bark and sea glass. I want to make a series of collars inspired by Maine materials and craft traditions. We cannot forget the legacy of either our traditional craft heritage or the legacy of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. They are both part of our American heritage. Too, I want to make one to inspire climate justice for future generations. We are at pivotal point in American Democracy.