Artist Statement for “Social Justice in the Eye of Crochet” by Bri Saldana (2023)

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a light pink face mask, glasses, brown sweater, black jeans, and white gym shoes stands next to a crochet art piece she created. The rectangular crochet piece consists of smaller crochet pieces that each display a justice related symbol or message (ex. disability justice, reproductive justice, trans pride flag, migrant justice, black power fist, equality symbol). She is holding her artist's statement. On the cover page, it states
GWS major Bri Saldana with her Honors Capstone Project "Social Justice in the Eye of Crochet"

For my Honors Capstone Project, I took a creative approach to represent my time at UIC as a Gender & Women's Studies major. While taking GWS and other courses, I have been taught the importance of art as activism in all sorts of movements like social and disability justice. Crochet is my form of expression, and I enjoy creating works that are visually appealing but also have sentiment, and these pieces all have their meaning as a whole and to myself. Crochet is creating a large piece out of many stitches and loops. I find this symbolic of a social movement requiring the collection of many participants' voices and action.

As I near the end of my undergraduate in GWS, I have read and watched many materials that emphasize the importance of intersectionality in our lives. Intersectionality plays an important role in how I develop ideas and analyze materials. Approaching social justice with an intersectional framework ensures that all voices are heard and applied. My Capstone Project includes movements and messages that I believe to be representative of intersectionality.

I became inspired by the work of Audre Lorde who used her poetry and writing as civil rights activism and feminism. In addition, my Honors Fellow and Capstone Supervisor, Dr. Jennifer Rupert, emphasizes the significance of media, literature, and art in social change. Positive representations are necessary in activism as we cannot continue to let mass media depict social change as something fighting against our world rather than for. With this in mind, I chose several issues in our world that need more attention and positive representations.

International Symbol of Acceptance Heading link

A black crocheted square piece. The wheelchair heart symbol is crocheted in white in the center of the square.

This symbol was created in 2007 by former UIC student Annie Hopkins and sibling Stevie Hopkins. I was made aware of this symbol in DHD 101. The creators discuss the importance of the social model of disability, where disability is only created by society and not the fault of the person. In addition, the symbol promotes acceptance of people with disabilities.

Including the symbol in my large piece was important to me because it is a symbol of empowerment rather than a sign of difference.

Wear Orange Heading link

An orange crocheted square with the top of a purple crocheted ribbon in the bottom left corner.

The color orange represents gun violence awareness. Though this square was the easiest to make, it was not easy thinking about the many lives that have been lost because of lack of gun reform and legislation. The number of mass shootings have exceeded the number of days a year. Gun violence is an issue that affects all communities.

Reproductive Justice expresses that people have the right to have children and raise them in safe environments. This square is representative of the unsafe conditions that children are brought up in.

Progress Pride Flag Heading link

A crocheted progress pride flag

The Progress Pride Flag includes new colors and an arrow to represent the various identities of the LGBTQ+ community and how they intersect. Combining sexuality, gender expression, and race.

This flag is included because it shows how a movement can approach activism and representation in intersectional ways. In addition, trans and non binary individuals are being targeted by conservative legislation. At this time, the entire community needs to come together to support these individuals and their rights.

The Monarch Butterfly Heading link

A monarch butterfly with black, orange, and white wings, is crocheted in the center of a light blue crochet square

The monarch butterfly is symbolic of Dreamers in the U.S. Dreamers are undocumented immigrants who arrived to the U.S. as children and now have to navigate a system against them. The butterfly represents their journey and strength.

This square is important because no one is illegal anywhere in the world. Citizenship status is an identity that needs more attention when analyzing people’s experiences with the system. As a Latina, fighting for the rights of undocumented immigrants is very important to me.

BLM Fist Heading link

A black fist with white outlines is crocheted in the center of a white crochet square

The black fist was picked up by the BLM organization. This fist symbolizes power, pride, unity, strength, and justice. A symbol recognized by many as the movement has become large across the states and around the world. Violence against the Black community perpetrated by the different levels of government continues to be an issue that is brushed under the rug.

The BLM movement is important to me because I believe it to be the first social movement I became engaged with in my youth. Moreover, something that sticks with me from my GWS curriculum is solving problems for Black women because it will solve problems for all. Media tells a negative story of BLM which is not true.

Human Rights Campaign Heading link

A yellow equality sign (two parallel horizontal yellow rectangles) is crocheted in the center of a navy blue crochet square

LGBTQ+ advocacy non profit organization. The goal is to create a safe environment for the queer community, focusing on Trans, BIPOC, and those with HIV/AIDS. Widely recognized symbol.

Black Trans women are being targeted in hate crimes and murder. Their voices need to be heard. This square is symbolic of those fighting for the rights of LGBTQ+ members. Legislation still needs to be passed to protect queer communities and this org is working on it. It is also important to not forget the ignorance of the government regarding the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Indigenous Solidarity Heading link

An orange crocheted hand appears on a black crocheted background

Canadian holiday Orange Shirt Day raises awareness for the genocide Indigenous children in Canada have experienced. The hand in this square is to represent the Indigenous victims across the world. Today, the populations in North America are still experiencing forced assimilation and violence against the communities.

This square is especially important right now as the U.S. Supreme Court decides if to overturn the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). ICWA keeps Indigenous children within their tribe and reservations, instead of being forcibly removed and put into foster care. This act has protected and nurtured the cultural practices in tribes. The potential ICWA overturn needs more attention so that Indigenous voices can be heard.

Intersex Pride Flag Heading link

A purple crocheted outline of a circle appears in the center of a yellow crocheted background

The Intersex Pride Flag promotes intersex visibility. Medically, sex is seen as a binary, and those who do not fit into female or male are labeled as intersex. This identity is still widely unknown today for the medical procedures at childbirth that create “normal” genitalia.

I included this flag because the Intersex Identity is hidden in society. Ignorance to this identity is not safe because of the forced medical procedures done onto infants and young children to fit into the “binary.” Generally, most people do not know they are intersex and when learning, feel ashamed as it is not talked about.

Silence = Death Heading link

A pink crocheted triangle appears at the top center on a black crocheted background. Beneath the triangle, the phrase Silence = Death is crocheted in white.

AIDS Awareness Poster created in 1987. Critique of the silence from the government regarding the AIDS epidemic. The pink triangle originates from Nazi Germany and the persecution of Gay men.

I chose to make this piece because my favorite quote from Audre Lorde is “your silence will not protect you.” Lorde explains in “The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action” that being quiet about issues affecting her did not change a thing. She did not start seeing change until she became outspoken. She argues that it is okay to make people uncomfortable for a good cause. Silence = Death was a poster that made people uncomfortable but also prompted action from health officials.

My Body My Choice Heading link

A brown crocheted square. In the center is beige crocheted uterus and fallopian tubes and white ovaries. At the top of the square, My Body appears in white felt letter. At the bottom of the square, My Choice appears in white felt letters.

The My Body My Choice movement has been the center of reproductive justice. With the overturn of Roe V. Wade, the fight for reproductive choice is more important than ever since the passing of conservative laws across the nation.

For this piece, I created a brown background to symbolize the forced sterilization of BIPOC. The overturn of Roe V. Wade puts these communities at higher risk because of the many factors that go into accessing abortion. I also aim to bring awareness of the continued forced sterilization of people with disabilities. Choice to childbearing and contraceptives are a human right and need to be granted to all, no matter their identities.