Art | Claudia Monteith

Claudia Monteith is Cedar

fabric-paper-photography-stitch-collage.

The Kind Project:2
A flock of Birds for Gaza

Birds for Gaza

close-up of flock of birds

If I must die, you must live to tell my story. - Refaat Alereer

A single act of kindness throws roots in all directions - Amelia Earhart

Birds for Gaza

close-up of flock of birds

1/10

I make these birds to remind myself I am never alone.

That at the same time that I am crying, others are crying too.

That there is always something that can be done, and that even a small thing is a lot more than nothing,

even if that small thing is crying one's heart out.

I make these birds to remind myself that a lot of small things can add up to a big thing.

That change is possible.

Each bird is made from recycled paper and card.

The slogans on the birds come from near and far, present poets and thinkers, and past ones.

There is one that I want to acknowledge in particular; the Palestine writer and poet, Refaat Alereer, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, 2023.

The suggested donation for the birds is £10, but please give what you can. So far I have made 60 birds, some of which are displayed and for sale at the Cleveden Craft Centre, Moor Lane, Cleveden, BS21 6TD .http://www.clevedoncraftcentre.co.uk/

Or you can contact me directly.

All proceeds will go to the charity - healpalestine.org

The Kind Project:1

1/19

As I approached my 50th birthday, I wanted to mark and celebrate this new chapter in my life, and create something in defiance of the stigma and stereotypes women experience as they get older. With this intention, I decided to cut off my long brown hair and embraced the silver waiting for me beneath!

I made 50 dolls, each one unique, to serve as symbols against the relentless critical attack aimed at the female form, for our age, size, shape or colour. Each doll is a reminder for us to always cherish and respect our own and each other's bodies, promoting kindness and compassion.

Each doll wears a lock of my shorn hair on their heads, except the last one, doll 50, who celebrates baldness!

All funds raised from this project were donated to FORWARD; a charity dedicated to supporting women facing the harshest challenges, and to ending the greatest crime committed against the female form - female genital mutilation (FGM).

For further information about this project, please visit - www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thekindproject

(note: This project is now closed. £1571 was raised.)