Mariposas
San Miguel,
formerly known as the BUTTERFLY PROJECT, uses the image of a butterfly to
symbolize change and transformation, the universal hope of breaking the cocoon
in order to fly.These colorful
and functional bags, pillow covers and other products are hand crafted by
indigenous women from rural areas around San Miguel de Allende in the state of
Guanajuato, Mexico.With skills
and a market for their work, these women are now able to support themselves and
their families.
Mariposas were chosen to symbolize The Mirabal Sisters, whose murder in 1960
led to the movement we observe today as International Day to End Violence
Against Women.Working
underground to expose human rights abuses in Dominican Republic, 3 of the sisters
used the code name las Mariposas (The Butterflies.) Mariposas San Miguel is a direct result ofimagina
2009,
a grassroots event created by artists in San Miguel in honor of that day, those women, and women
everywhere.
Your
support of Mariposas
San Miguel
helps these women around San Miguel and in other parts of the world, and in
doing so, helps each one of us, as we reach beyond borders to have our slogan
embroidered in other languages.
"Nonviolence
is not a garment to be put on and off at will. Its seat is in the heart
and it is an inseparable part of our being."
Teresa, Ana and Angeles hand stitch the mariposas at the ranchitos in La Joya.
Angeles Agreda Peinado assembles the squares for bags and pillow covers
JUNTOS: Artists United to Eliminate Violence Against Women is a group of individuals in San Miguel de Allende working together to create arts events in observance of INTERNATIONAL DAY TO ELIMINATE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, November 25. This day marks the beginning of 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER VIOLENCE, which came out of the Global Campaign for Women′s Human Rights. imagina2009 was a great success, and we now look forward to building a committee to work on imagina2010. If you can participate, sponsor, support or just have an interest, please contact me, Lena Bartula, founder and director, at
lenabartula@gmail.com or cel: 415 152 3158. Check out our blog at: http://imaginajuntos.blogspot.com/
