In 2022, 1,033 people in Colorado were killed by firearms. I wanted to create a visual representation of the devastating impact of gun violence. I began this quilt several years ago with 850 deaths as my statistic, there are 850 red pieces for each life lost. After completing the quilt top I saw the number rose to 1,033 and I added 183 embroidered tally marks in the binding to honor those additional lives. Gun violence is an epidemic in this country, but also preventable if we can force our lawmakers to act. I work with Moms Demand Action in the fight to end gun violence and I wanted to include their reminder to “keep fighting.” I hope this quilt will raise awareness about gun violence and inspire others to join the fight. We need to keep fighting to prevent future tragedies and make our communities safer.
