Welcome to Episode 2 of Art Against Empire!

Quilting as Collective Storytelling weaves together the stories of the AIDS quilt, the Abolition Sewing Bee and features the work of Sara Trail who founded the Social Justice Sewing Academy in Oakland, Californnia.

Sara's putting needle and thread into the hands of young people from marginalized communities. They've stitched portraits of police violence victims, documented gentrification through a child's eyes, and created memorial quilts that travel the country.

In this episode, Sara names the hidden barriers to quilting: the spare bedroom studio, fifteen-dollar fabric, the socioeconomic privilege the industry won't discuss and shares how her "Robin Hood" model redistributes resources to young makers. We trace the lineage she draws from: freedom quilts, the improvisational brilliance of Gee's Bend, and the AIDS Memorial Quilt. We also hear from Grace Rother on the Abolition Quilting Bee.

Art Against Empire is edited by Shawn Dearn and produced by Secret Agents. Visit artagainstempire.net for photos, transcripts, and resources.