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NCRJ Art Entry #002 - A Stitch in Time - Artist: Kristyna C. Ryan
Center for Justice Reform
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I am a quilter both by heritage and choice, so I chose to work in the medium I know. I selected icons from tribal communities we may look to for examples in examining what justice means - or could mean - in the United States today. Drawing inspiration from Native American tribes, as well as tribal communities around the globe, I selected five symbols to represent the various cultural approaches to justice: the broken arrow, the Mpatapo, the bear, the Koru, and the Acatl. I matched these symbols with fabrics designed from the same cultural heritages or inspired by them, and juxtaposed the icons and fabric squares into a quilt to bind them all together into a quilt, which to me represents warmth, sharing, craft, heritage, and a shared tradition often rooted in family and community. In reimagining justice for today, I think examining our relationship and connections to the past is a critical step in being able to move forward. Additionally, the old saying "a stitch in time saves nine" came to mind in that our efforts to reimagine the justice system by using ancient techniques to remedy wrongs will hopefully save us all time and pain.
Location: USA
This project is supported by Grant No. 2020-MU-CX-K001 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view, images, or opinions in this document and are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.