“The art is a megaphone.” The creator of the Social Justice Sewing Academy sheds light on the importance of championing activism through art.
America’s youth are advocating against racism, gender discrimination, gun violence, gentrification, and more through an unexpected artistic medium—quilting. Founded in 2017, the Social Justice Sewing Academy is a philanthropic organization that offers underrepresented groups a voice through textile art.
In the interview below, the founder of SJSA, Sara Trail, opens about her ancestral history with quilting, how it pertains to racial identity love, and how she’s using the artform to facilitate change.
Lizzy Zarrello: How has your ancestry inspired your interest in quilting?
Sara Trail: Quilting has historical significance in my family history. My great-great-grandma was enslaved. Her only resource for comfort and warmth was quilting. Historically, quilting for Black women did not come from a place of affluence like it does today; it came from necessity. My great-great-grandma passed the art down through our family.
LZ: How did your love of sewing turn into a form of activism?
ST: Right after Trayvon Martin was murdered, I went to my normal sewing classes and sat in my sewing circles only to find that I was surrounded by people who weren’t interested and didn’t support me in my grief for someone I identified with so closely. As time went on, I wanted to make an art piece that would represent his life and be a cathartic experience for me. When finished, I realized that not only were many of my sewing world peers disinterested in something that touched my community, but they were not welcoming or accepting of the art that I had made, when in the past, they loved all the work I designed. It was at this moment that I realized that I wanted to give youth a place to express their hurts and act as artists.
LZ: What inspired you to provide sewing classes for young adults who can’t afford classes otherwise?
ST: When I was younger, I was teaching sewing classes at different stores. I started to notice that none of the kids joining my classes looked like me. I did some research as to why. Sewing is a luxury. It is an art that is cornered by the middle to upper-middle class, partly because it has become cheaper to purchase an apron or blanket than it is to buy the material to make one.
I didn’t want my passion or skill only to be accessible to those who had a middle-class background. I wanted all kids to be able to share in what provided purpose and enjoyment to me.
LZ: How is the sewing taught at Social Justice Sewing Academy different from a traditional sewing class?
ST: SJSA workshops focus on the art and the concepts behind the art. We care more about creativity than we do perfection. The idea and translation of those ideas is the highlight of the [quilt] block [different square sections of fabric that are sewn together to create a quilt], not having perfect seams or corners. In most SJSA classes, there is no sewing, glue is used to track down the art, and it is sent off to our team of volunteer embroiders.
LZ: How does the Social Justice Sewing Academy amplify the voices of underprivileged youth?
ST: The art is a megaphone for the issues they care about. Their art is shown in prestigious museums and is the talking point for adults of all backgrounds and levels of influence.
LZ: What’s the process behind the creation of ‘community quilts’?
ST: We start each workshop with a short social justice lesson and challenge each student to think about what they are most passionate about, an issue that has affected them or an area they wish they could change. The youth are free to make whatever art piece they choose, and our facilitator will help with prompts and feedback to ensure that their idea translates well into the fabric. We tell the youth this is their chance to be heard and educate others about the social concerns they face.
LZ: What do you see in the Social Justice Sewing Academy’s future?
ST: SJSA’s future is in education and entrepreneurship opportunities. We are looking at rolling out a curriculum to schools and training school districts on its implementation. We also hope to continue to have accelerator programs through which we can offer mentorship and grant money to youth and young adults who are striving to make a difference in the social justice world.
LZ: How can people get involved in Social Justice Sewing Academy?
ST: We are always looking for volunteers to assist with our Remembrance Project, which launched during the summer of 2020. The youth have created a database of over 5000 names of individuals [lost to violence and social injustice] to honor [through a quilt block designed in their remembrance].
Images courtesy of Social Justice Sewing Academy
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