An altar, a tree, and 100 mini mandalas all crocheted to raise awareness about depression, suicide, and crafting to heal
3 Unique Contributions to Mandalas for Marinke Crochet Art Project
Over time I will continue sharing looks-back at the Mandalas for Marinke project, a collaborative crochet art project to raise awareness about depression, suicide and crafting to heal. It was a 2015 project and I can’t believe we’re so close to the one-decade mark of its inception. It’s important to me to keep the message alive and sharing these old excerpts is one way for me to do that.
People were invited to send in crochet mandalas for this project and I received over 1000 mandalas. In many cases, people sent in one crochet mandala or just a few. But sometimes they sent in many. And sometimes, they sent me information about related projects that they linked with Mandalas for Marinke. I wanted to share with you three of the special, unique contributions from that time here today, as originally published on my now-defunct crochet blog during the initial stages of the project
Mandalas for Marinke Reach Children Through Exhibit
(so bummed to say that I couldn’t find a photo of this in my archives! I hope one exists somewhere.
Artist Edna Torres had reached out to me and explained:
“The last few years I have prepared altars for the Mexican holiday, Dia de los Muertos. These altars are made in honor of loved ones that have passed. A cool gallery has placed a ‘Call to Artists’ for this year’s Day of the Dead Show. The gallery is housed at the old Pico House at the Plazita Olvera in Los Angeles. I would like to assembly an altar in memory of Wink and submit it to the committee for consideration. Would you consider sharing some of the mandalas with me for this project?”
We worked together and I sent a small set of the mandalas from the project to her to include in the making of her altar, which was indeed accepted as part of the show. The show has now been completed, and when I asked Edna how it went, she shared:
“It was wonderful! They had a record number of people attending – more than 8,000 people came, many of them school children. I heard nothing but positive things from the docents. I visited a few times and kinda eavesdropped when classes approached the altar, I witnessed students identify with Wink and her struggles and heard them speak of their own difficulties. This display made it so much easier for them to open up and share.”
Edna also spoke to a few of the classes and was able to share about herself and why she crochets. All in all, it sounds like it was all a great success that really got people talking about their emotions, something that is so important to destigmatize depression and help people seek support if they need it. I’m so glad that the mandalas could be a part of this and so grateful to Edna for making this happen.
A Crochet Mandala Tree for Wink
Diny Slamet sent me this photo and message on social media:
"I thought you might like to hear the story of my mandala tree. I am a member of the Yarn Corner yarnbombing and charity crochet/ knitting group in Melbourne, Australia. Earlier this year our group was commissioned to produce yarn bombs for Victoria Market, one of the city's great tourist attractions and a beautiful 19th century market. I've always loved mandalas and particularly, Wink's lovely patterns. So I set about making this work with the help of two other group members. Weeks into the work came the news of Wink's tragic death. If these mandalas hadn't been committed to this project I would have sent them to be part of your Marinke tribute. The tree became my personal tribute."
I am so happy to see this beautiful crochet tree, and I'm glad to know that the mandalas were put to use in this way. I am touched by each and every physical contribution to Mandalas for Marinke but I'm also touched by other projects that are only tangentially related. I believe that Wink's out there working her magic in the world somehow. I believe that we are all connected by the threads of our love for this craft. I believe this all matters.
100 Mini Mandalas for Marinke from Karen
The mini mandalas for Marinke were given to people at events and via mail who were need of uplifting and inspiration for any reason at all. These 100 mini mandalas come to us from Karen who writes,
"You asked for small mandalas, so here are 100 from me. I think offering to each person attending the show is quite an idea. An appropriate remembrance of Wink and hopeful a reminder that there is help and hope for those suffering from depression.
I will admit sometimes I felt I'd go blind making these little guys! But thinking of Wink and watching KC Royals baseball games got me through.
Thank you for coming up with such a great tribute to Wink and for all of the work you're doing to see it through to its fruition."
The Mandalas for Marinke Project was an amazing collaborative experience and one of the best projects I’ve ever done. As we approach the ten year anniversary of it, I am touched once again to look back at it. Some additional shares:
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