Ian's artist statement-Clara Barton and the Red Cross

For the second quilt square Maya and I did Clara Barton and the Red Cross. Clara Barton was the founder of the Red Cross and a Civil war nurse that followed the union troops into battle. Once while she was helping a wounded soldier on the battlefield, a bullet came flying through the air, went through her sleeve and killed the man she was helping. Her work on the battlefield earned her the nickname “Angel of the Battlefield”. On May 21^st 1881 Clarissa Barton (that was her full name, but she preferred being called Clara) and a group of associates founded the Red Cross in Washington D.C.

For our quilt square we have an angel with a red cross for a body. She is Clara Barton. The angel represents Clara’s nickname and her body is symbolizing the role she played in the red cross. 
In the corners is four little maps. The two on the left is Japan and Haiti, the ones on the right are Missouri and Alabama. These are four of the places the Red Cross has given relief to in the recent years. Internationally (Japan and Haiti) and Nationally (Missouri and Alabama). Japan for the Tsunami-earthquake Haiti for there earthquake, Missouri for this springs tornadoes and Alabama for Hurricane Katrina.