Waterfall of Solidarity and Resistance
About the tapestry
In 2019 there was an idea to lift stories of pain and healing, violence and justice, resistance, and resilience through art. A tapestry of solidarity for a global exhibit at the World Council of Churches 11th Assembly and beyond.
Panels started to come in, with inspiring stories of commitment, hope, survival. But an important element was missing, someone who could put all the blocks together into a tapestry. We were introduced to Janine Marja Schneider, in Brazil, who put aside her own work for several months, to make the tapestry a reality.
Janine not only provided her artistry, but she also gave the heart to the stories she found in her hands. “All these squares and these hopes, for a world without violence, and without femicide and without rape, all these wishes, these cries, I am going to sew, forming a waterfall. I am emotional and asking all of you to send me good energies and prayers so that I can do it.”
Part of the Thursdays in Black campaign
The Waterfall is a tangible symbol of the Thursdays in Black campaign, in which individuals, churches, groups, and organizations show that they are a part of a global movement to eliminate gender-based violence. The Thursdays in Black campaign is simple yet profound. Wear black on Thursdays. Wear a pin to declare you are part of the global movement working towards a world without rape and violence. Show respect for resilient women in the face of injustice and violence.
The Thursdays in Black Waterfall of Solidarity and Resistance is a tapestry crafted by women across the world who continue to hope for a world free from rape and violence.
One block depicts a woman with a zipper for a mouth, expressing her reaction to psychological violence and control experienced at home. Another block has the wishful words ”Safe Space for Everyone.“ Other blocks promote the Thursdays in Black global campaign for a violence-free world. Some squares depict women crying. Others read “Hope” or “Courage.” Together, they say: “Enough! Basta!”
These visual statements point to deeper stories, some told and some never told, yet they are happening around the world. As Brazilian artist Janine Marja Schneider sewed them together, she hoped the finished Waterfall of Solidarity and Resistance would make a powerful, international statement of a global commitment to end rape and violence.
Sharing the stories, making an impact
Carrying women‘s stories of survival and hope, the Waterfall of Solidarity and Resistance made its way to WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, summer of 2022. After the assembly, it has been displayed at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva.
It’s now possible to apply to display the full tapestry at major events and settings. For instructions, conditions, and promotional resources, see below.
For smaller settings, sets of 70x100cm posters or 80x200 cm roll-up banners are also available. For the high resolution print files of these options, please email media@wcc-coe.org .
The over 180 blocks—which every single one tells a story—are arranged in colourful strips that flow like liquid and does gently move when people pass by them.
The power of the Waterfall Tapestry is not only in each panel, but in the story of its creation.
