Healing-Arts Workshop Serves Flood-Impacted Families

On August 24, 2024, families affected by January’s devastating floods gathered at the Sherman Heights Community Center (SHCC) for a free healing-arts workshop. Hosted by Space 4 Art, teaching artist Yvette Roman, SHCC, and District 8’s Councilmember Vivian Moreno and Community Engagement Director Elizabeth Rodriguez, this workshop was designed to help participants express their experiences through the art of storytelling with fabric.

The workshop, titled “Tides of Emotions,” aimed to reconnect individuals with water's nurturing aspect while acknowledging its destructive abilities. The title reflected the duality of participants’ recent experiences— the emotional waves caused by the floods and the resilience that could never be washed away.

Teaching artist Yvette Roman leads the workshop.

As participants arrived at the community center, their faces were bright with smiles and laughter, reflecting the resilient spirit that binds this community together despite the challenges they have faced. The participants were all female-presenting adults and children who brought creativity, strength, and warmth to the workshop.

Yvette Roman began the workshop by inviting participants to explore their emotions through a reflective exercise. Stationed around a gazebo in the center’s courtyard, poster boards with prompts encouraged them to delve into their feelings about the flood— its onset, its aftermath, and its eventual retreat.

In a talk circle conducted in both Spanish and English, Yvette guided participants in discussing their written responses, creating space for solace and solidarity. She also introduced them to the rich tradition of storytelling through quilting— a craft that preserves cultural legacies and collective memories. Through quilting, individuals can process trauma, honor loved ones, and celebrate significant milestones.

Participants then began creating their own quilts, starting with drawings that reflected their personal experiences and hopes. Many chose to depict elements of nature, drying clothes, their homes, and words like “hope.” With Yvette’s guidance, they selected fabrics, outlined shapes with fabric chalk, and began sewing their quilt squares. Each piece was infused with their unique stories and emotions.

As the workshop came to a close, the air was filled with a sense of accomplishment and renewed hope. Participants expressed feeling more relaxed, hopeful, and grateful for having discovered a new form of artistic expression.

The quilts, which will be completed with padding and backing by Yvette and volunteer Lito, will be displayed at the Sherman Heights Community Center (2258 Island Ave.) on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, from 6-8 p.m. After the exhibit, the workshop participants will take their quilts home. This exhibition is a testament to the community’s resilience and creativity, honoring both their struggles and their strength.