Widowsweave is an awareness raising series of performances highlighting the conditions of Iraqi Widows who often struggle to acquire basic necessities such as clean water or adequate shelter. Through artistic durational activities the artist and public participants mark 3,000,000 lines representing the number of widows from almost 30 years of war, tyranny and sanctions. Why three million? That is the number used by the Iraqi Minister for Women’s Affairs upon her resignation early in 2009 when her budget was cut to $18,000/year.
The project plans to include a variety of fundraising techniques as well to donate to partnered charities which will benefit Iraqi widows through educating the public, assisting and training widows and opening dialogue about the issues surrounding the vulnerability of widows.
Check out the blog: www.birddenoftruth.com
Current Widowsweave Performance: Widowsweave: 3 Million Lines through May 15th – 1104 South Wabash, Chicago – 2nd floor (in back)
Prior Widows Performances:
7th Anniversary of Mission Accomplished Ceremonial Performances 5/1/10
Panel Discussion: Women Artists in Muslim Society 4/30/10
Widowsweave: Peace – Election Day in Iraq – Peace & al Salam are drawn into the sand for each elected position
Widowsweave: 43 Days – Drawing 430,000 lines in the sand to mark the anniversary of Operation Desert Storm – through February 28th – www.birddenoftruth.com
Veteran’s Day 2009 -4362 Lines for US Casualties
11/7/09 Action Day with Core Project, Jaber Alturfee & Body Rewired
Afghan War Anniversary -800 lines for eight years
Iran-Iraq War Anniversary -2900 lines on September 22nd
Lines in the Sand – first Widows: Lines in the Sand Performance
Widows Chalkweave 6 – interactive performance with projection and chalkboard – on YouTube