Patch and writing by Hannah

“The only arpillera that I have never been able to make is the one that should have been created in homage to my father.  I can’t make that arpillera, emotionally I have never had the strength to make it.” – Victoria Díaz Caro, daughter of Victor Díaz López, who was arrested and disappeared in Chile on May 12, 1976.[1]

“I’ve made [arpilleras] about all kinds of themes, but up until now I haven’t been able to make the one that represents my son’s arrest.  I know that I have to make it, but I haven’t been able to…my tears drench the fabric and because of that I can’t do it.” – Inelia Hermosilla Silva, mother of Héctor “Tito” Garay Hermosilla, who was arrested and disappeared in Chile on July 8, 1974.[2]

For Victoria, Inelia, and all the women who have not been able to make arpilleras about their own family members;

For all the women who have begun arpilleras and not been able to finish them;

For the many stories I know or have read about that I was unable to include in the quilt;

For the hundreds and thousands of stories I do not know because I am limited by my library and internet access and thousands of women are limited by their lack of this access;

For you, the reader and viewer and interpreter, who has your own story to share – what could you put in an 8 inch by 8 inch square?

For all this and more…

I dedicate this patch to the hope of what could fill it.