The Narrative Thread

This book was published by the Folk & Traditional Arts Program at the Idaho Commission on the Arts and culminates a 10 year partnership with Artisans For Hope to document and celebrate, with oral histories and narrative quilts, the lives of some of Idaho's newest residents. The project was created by Maria Carmen Gambliel and Malia Collins.

Steven Hatcher later shepherded the project along with founding Artisans For Hope member Joan Cloonan who developed traveling exhibits of the quilts and pondered the idea of a book. I came in at the end, as a photographer and Jocelyn Robertson designed the book that Malia authored.

Ultimately, the book is for and about the 27 women and three men who participated in the process. In Steven Hatcher’s words, “Their adversities, victories, and understated reflections on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are the heart, soul, and backbone of this work. Their humanity moves mountains.”