A Meeting Of The Minds

Allow me to introduce Traci Arieli, a certified end-of-life doula. I met her through an article I wrote for Hadassah Magazine. (The article is on page 38 in the link.)

We spoke through her podcast, Comforting Closure – Conversations with a Death Doula, Stitching Stories in this episode, Quilting as Life Review with Louise Silk

In this episode of Comforting Closure – Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli sits down with Louise Silk, a celebrated quiltmaker and fiber artist, to explore how quilting serves as a tool for life review, memory, grief, and legacy. Louise shares how she began her quilting journey after reading an article in Ms. Magazine, how she has used quilting to process personal loss, and why the Witness Quilt—a collection of over 1,000 embroidered wisdoms—was dismantled and given away. This episode is a beautiful reminder that reflection isn’t just about looking back—it’s about honoring our stories, embracing change, and finding meaning in creative expression. 

Together, they discuss: 

  • How quilting serves as a metaphor for life review 
  • The role of storytelling and memory in fabric art 
  • The Witness Quilt: its evolution, meaning, and dismantling 
  • Ritual, impermanence, and the lessons quilting teaches about grief and letting go 
  • Passing wisdom and legacy through art 

Links & Resources: 










Memory Quilt 2025

Memory Quilt; 75 X88; Machine Pieced & Hand Quilted

Hailey’s Bags, Witness Quilt Contributions, Wisdom Patches, Steve’s Jeans, Work Shirt & Tee, Eli’s Napkin Fabric, Wedding Tie, & Basketball Uniform, Annie’s Wedding Dress, Tee-Shirt Quilt Remnants, Black Clothing Remnants, Panche Ikat Shirt, Alexander Henry 9-Patch, Nana’s Needlepoint & Cocktail Napkins, Izzy’s Big Tees, Dan’s Roots SweatShirt, A Patchwork Life Silks

Witnessing

Creating The Witness Quilt hinged on my unwavering faith in the creative process. I would not see the quilt in its totality until six months into the exhibition. My studio wall did not accommodate its massive size. Time limitations required both the veiled kittel under-layer and the concealing add-on patchworks to be built simultaneously. A creation without visual confirmation would be required.

The Witness Quilt was planned as the narrative arc of the exhibition, Louise Silk: A Patchwork Life at The Heinz History Center. The exhibit followed the timeline of my quilting experiences through my connections to community, art, feminism, and renewal. The story, while personal and specific to me, became the repository for larger concepts of folk history, cultural reflection, and personal identification. This on-site quilt interactive was designed to foster a broader dynamic collaboration that moved beyond the standard retrospective exhibition. 

The original quilt was created over an eight-month period in 2023-24. Referencing a kimono shape sized up to be 15 feet wide X 9 feet long, it was divided into seven panels composed of 1525 individual detachable patchworks. The quilt contained hand-embroidered BubbeWisdoms, a collection of affirmative maxims, alongside phrases of a contemporary version of the Vidui prayer. Beginning with the opening on September 1, 2024, The BubbeWisdom Stitching Circle collected meaningful fabric donations from members of the public, applied pithy embroideries to them, and incorporated them into my original quilt form. In the latter months of the exhibit, they systematically unmade the quilt and distributed the patchwork pieces to the viewing public. 

I connected deeply as viewers openly shared thoughts and feelings throughout their experience. We shook hands, gave hugs, took photos and exchanged stories. Former students, distant relatives, older mentors, long-lost friends, dedicated quilters, want-to be quilters, historians, families, sports fans, and tourists, each applying their own individual take-aways, became an integral part of my process.

What the viewer relates to throughout the exhibit is my singular ability to value process over product, to be flexible in the flow, and to make the most of what is given. Going beyond individual stitches that unite into an aesthetic whole, The Witness Quilt’s abnormal process of making, unmaking, and gifting patchworks, values co-creating through an intentional melding of time. Accompanying the full moon of Adar, the kittel came into full view transforming something temporary and transitional into an affirmative long-lasting archival experience for all.

The Application of AI to Me

There is a program this Thursday at The Heinz History Center where the request was for me to speak about “art, history, and activism from a Jewish perspective”. This request put me into a panic- what do I have to say about art, history and activism in my work????? I turned to my husband, as I often do, for a little guidance, He is a big fan of AI. His experience is that it helps organize his thoughts. This is what AI had to say about me:

Louise Silk, a Pittsburgh-based fiber artist, exemplifies the fusion of Jewish identity and activism through her innovative quilting and fabric art. Her work intricately weaves personal narratives, spiritual exploration, and social consciousness, reflecting a deep commitment to both her heritage and societal issues.

Integration of Jewish Identity

Initially, Silk maintained a separation between her art and Jewish identity. However, a creative crisis in the late 1980s prompted her to blend spirituality with her craft, leading to quilts imbued with profound personal and cultural significance. This integration allowed her to process life’s challenges, including divorce and loss, through a resilient and spiritual framework.  

Her engagement with Jewish feminism in the 1980s further deepened this connection. Participating in adult bat mitzvahs and exploring spiritual life enabled Silk to reflect on how Judaism could manifest in her work, resulting in art that confidently expresses her Jewish identity.  

Art as Activism

Silk’s quilts extend beyond personal expression to address broader social and political themes. Her interest in politics, environmental issues, women’s rights, and culture is evident in her work, which often incorporates recycled materials to comment on sustainability and memory.  

Following the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, Silk created the “No Hate Flag,” utilizing recycled clothing and textiles to craft an eye-catching piece displayed in a public gallery. This work exemplifies her commitment to social justice and community healing through art.  

Retrospective Exhibition

The exhibition “Louise Silk: A Patchwork Life” at the Heinz History Center showcases her five-decade career, highlighting the evolution of her art in relation to her Jewish identity and activism. The display includes archival images, videos, and interactive components, encouraging visitors to engage with themes of family, grief, and spirituality.  

Through her quilts, Louise Silk masterfully intertwines Jewish traditions with contemporary issues, using her art as a platform for activism and personal expression. Her work not only preserves cultural narratives but also challenges viewers to reflect on pressing societal concerns.

This was incredibly helpful. I am working on my talk and will share it with you on Friday. Maybe, just maybe, it will all work out in the end.

Our Fiber World in Woven Stories

Sarah and I work together as SilkDenim. You can see our product line on ETSY. We also share a birthday. This is a portrait I made for her to celebrate our latest one:

In addition to what we share, we each follow our independent interests. Sarah is a feldenkrais practitioner and an active member of the RustBelt FiberShed.

All of this plus more is featured in a The World of Sustainable Fiber Arts in Pittsburgh | Weaving Stories into Community new documentary short by by Molly Tighe at WQED

Uncover the magic of fiber art! Join artist Erin Carlson as she revives the heritage craft of transforming humble flax into beautiful linen with the Rust Belt Fibershed, exploring the historical roots of this ancient practice and the journey towards sustainable fiber production. Discover the power of local sourcing and eco-conscious creation with fiber artist Gretchen Graff and the One Year One Outfit project. Finally, meet celebrated quilt maker Louise Silk and her designer daughter Sarah, who are pushing the boundaries of fiber art while honoring time-honored techniques. From field to fabric, we celebrate the artistry, community, and enduring legacy woven into every thread. ENJOY!

On Our Birthday

In My Own Words

For many years I have been documenting my life, first with journals, then with the text, The Quilting Path, with self-published books from The Quilting Path to The Container Blog and finally (for now) A Patchwork Life. Here is the list and links to see them:

The Container Blog was a project I did with poet, Jude Volmer,. This book is a series of my blog entries from 2011-2021 describing the creation of The Container Project and then my creative process written and shared in that blog.

There is writing about and for my grandchildren. The first was the record of a blog I kept for my first grandchild, Maya. There were also two story books, one that explains the story of my personal memory quilt, and the other that tells about my creation of a children’s tent.

In 2015, I did a summary of some of my blog entries that relate to creating BubbeWisdom, the term I settled on to define myself in these later stages of my life.

I wrote one book of fiction about the wife of the Rabbi of the Warsaw Ghetto called The Tent of Protection and many personal books about people in my family from My Cousin Mickey to my mother, father, my late partner, Heath Lamberts and a series of interviews with my father and his two brothers.

A Patchwork Life was first a book written during the pandemic and then the inspiration for an exhibition at The Heinz History Center.

Altogether a powerful informative written legacy.

Gut Yonif

The Heinz History Center’s Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives will celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim with a one-night only, participatory experience that blends hand-crafted art and tradition.

Purim commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian empire. This is a joyous occasion that is often celebrated with storytelling, gifts, and festive meals.

Join artist Olivia Devorah as they delve into the history of the holiday from the biblical book of Esther and view traditional texts in a new light, taking inspiration from “The Witness Quilt.”

Inspired by the rich colors, textures, and life stories showcased in the Louise Silk: A Patchwork Life exhibition, the Gut Yontif: A Patchwork Holiday Experience series invites emerging artists to reimagine the themes of Sukkot, Chanukah, Tu B’Shvat, and Purim in new works of art.

Often said after the evening service that marks the start of a Jewish holiday, Gut Yontif is a Yiddish greeting that means “have a good holiday!”

THE BLESSING CORD

Screenshot

To celebrate the UNMAKING of THE WITNESS QUILT, as part of Louise Silk: A Patchwork Life, I offer the ritual of the RED STRING. The Red String offers protection. Red attracts and impedes negative forces, converting the darkness of judgement into the mercy of light. This creates a forcefield that diverts the evil eye.

In the traditional Buddhist practice a Lama ties a knot in the cord, blows a mantra into it, and makes a blessing. This allows the student to be in continual contact with the teacher. From the Jewish tradition, there is a tomb on the road where our biblical mother, Rachel, died giving birth to her second son, Benjamin. In her honor, a red string from this tomb is embedded with protective powers, cut into bracelet-sized lengths, and then given out. In Kabbalah, the Red String is worn on the left hand to convert negative forces from this physical point of entry, the left wrist, into good fortune, spiritual connection and protection. 

To create your Red String Barrel Knot Bracelet, set an intention that works for you. Is it to prevent a mishap? or identify a desire? or to protect against a fear? or to bestow a blessing? Be conscious. Be intentional. Be honest. Intention is your power for whatever you need in moment: protection, peace, abundance and/or grace. 

Here is video instruction for an Adjustable Red String Barrel Knot Bracelet:

Here are the written step-by-step directions: 

  1. Use a 20” (50cm) of 2mm Red Satin Cord.
  2. Take your length of cord and cross the tails over, creating a loop roughly the size of your fist.
  3. Bring the right tail back on itself. Bring the tail down to create a loop. Take the tail underneath all the cords. Wrap it around all the cords three times. Bring the tail up through the loop. Pull firmly to form the knot allowing the cord to move through it. One knot completed.
  4. Turn over the bracelet and repeat to create using the second tail to create a second knot. Tighten the knot, the two knots will move further apart as you tighten. Firm up both knots making sure the cord slides freely.
  5. Trim off the excess. Carefully melt the end to itself, being sure not to catch the main cord. 

UnMaking The Witness Quilt

Witness עֵד
2023-24. 1200+ individual detachable patches.
Overall:178”W X 101”L. Panels: Right_Front7/Back_Left1 19”WX71”L; Right_Front6/Back_Left2 22”WX78”L; Right_Front5/Back_Left3 22”WX 87”L; Middle_Front4a&b and Back4 52”X 101”L; Left_Front3/Back_Right5 22”WX87”L; Left_Front2/Back_Right6 22”W X78”L ; Left_Front1/Back_Right7 19”WX71”L.


Under Layer: Materials: Crème colored linens, clothing, embroidery floss, yarn, old quilts. Technique: individually hand embroidered BubbeWisdoms or phrases of
a contemporary version of Viddui prayer finished with buttonhole stitch.
Add On Patches: Materials: Assorted remnants, embroidery floss, yarn, old quilts.
Technique: Hand embroidered BubbeWisdoms finished with buttonhole stitch.

It’s been quilt a long time in the making, The Witness Quilt as part of Louise Silk: A Patchwork Life, has grown to 1475 patchworks.

Beginning Friday, February 21st, we will UnMake The Witness Quilt by separating the patchworks, and dispersing them to individual owners. Come in and claim yours!

Yichus-Part IV

My cousin Gerrie Shapiro was recently featured on page 42 of Whirl Magazine. You may know her as a dog trainer and/or as an artist; for me, she is the keeper of our heritage.

She had in her possession my great-grandfather’s wallet; now housed in the Jewish Archives Shapiro Brother Papers. Found in the wallet, was a paper written when he was fifty years old, that states the names and birthdates of each of his children. Gerrie’s and my grandfather is Hymen, born January 5th, 1882.

And to put a face to all of the names. Here they are all together:

Morris is the bearded patriarch near the top. My grandfather, Hymen, is to his right and my dad, Howard, is the one down front with a cousin’s arm around his neck. Gerrie’s father Jason is in the argyle sweater at the front.

And coming full circle, just in case you haven’t seen it, here is the family representation in Louise Silk: A Patchwork Life at the Heinz History Center.