Overview
| Title: | Monument Quilt Collection |
| Call Number: | Coll328 |
| Creator: | FORCE: Upsetting Rape Culture |
| Dates: | 2010-2019 |
| Size: | 15 boxes (38 linear feet) |
| Language: | English/> |
| Abstract: | This collection contains 31 quilts within 15 boxes of FORCE’s Monument Quilt Collection. Each quilt contains stories and affirmations from victims/survivors of sexual and domestic violence and abuse created by members of the UMBC community. Digital materials (9.55 GB) include display layouts, volunteer packets and guides, display images and videos from exhibitions, workshops, and performances. |
| Citation: | Monument Quilt Collection, Collection 328, Special Collections, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (Baltimore, MD). |
Administrative/Biographical Note
Founded in 2010 by Hannah Brancato and Rebecca Nagle, FORCE: Upsetting Rape Culture is an art and activist collective dedicated to constructing a culture of consent, widely known for creating public art to disrupt rape culture. FORCE was an intersectional, LGBTQ focused, multicultural, pro-black and anti-white supremacist collective, who did their deepest organizing work in Baltimore and Mexico City, and planted seeds globally. They strived for their visual imagery, language, resources, and organizing strategies to have a local and global impact in their efforts to end sexual and intimate partner violence by changing social attitudes and connecting these shifts to policy change. FORCE is best known for blanketing the National Mall in June 2019 with the Monument Quilt, a 3-day display of over 3,000 stories by survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence from around the world, with a particular focus on the USA, Mexico, and Indigenous Nations within North America. From 2013 to 2019, and over 6 years, the Quilt was displayed 50 times in 33 cities across the US and in Mexico, including at the US-Mexico border and has partnered with over 100 organizations around the world. At the time of the display, a staff collective, guided by a Leadership Team, was assembled to shape the vision of the project, which included Charnell Covert, E Cadoux, Mora Fernández, Hannah Brancato, and Shanti Flagg and former staff collective members, include Saida Agostini, Rusty Marquis and Rebecca Nagle. Pieced together by volunteers over 7 years under the guidance of a staff collective and a dedicated volunteer leadership team, over 50,000 people encountered the display in person, and hundreds of thousands engaged online. From 2013-2019, the Monument Quilt was displayed 50 times in 33 different cities across the US and in Mexico. Partnered with over 100 organizations across the US and in Mexico, to organize 50 Quilt displays in 33 different cities. Cities include, in order from most recent: Washington, DC; Baltimore, MD; Madison, NJ; Houston, TX; Athens, OH; Fort Belvoir, VA; Towson, MD; Mexico City, Mexico; San Francisco, CA; El Paso, TX; Ciudad Juárez, Mexico; Santa Barbara, CA; Valley Center, CA; Tempe, AZ; Tulsa, OK; Fort Hood, TX; Annapolis, MD; Fort Meade, MD; Washington, DC; Nashville, TN; Jacksonville, FL; Oklahoma City, OK; Middleton, CT; Queens, NY; Pittsburgh, PA; Durham, NC; Oshkosh, WI; Chicago, IL; White River, SD; Quapaw, OK; Des Moines, IA; Baton Rouge, LA; Birmingham, AL; Arden, NC. In 2021, FORCE ceased active programming. Today, FORCE’s efforts are focused on the archiving of the Monument Quilts, with full intention of finding a home for every quilt.
Scope & Content
Arrangement
This collection is made up of two series. Series I: Monument Quilts is organized in numerical order assigned by the donor. Series II: Digital Materials is kept in original order by donor.
Provenance Information
Provenance and Acquisition Information
Accession MSS 2022-03.
Related Collections
https://app.themonumentquilt.org/
Processing Note
This colection was transferred to Special Collections by Hanna Brancato in April 2022.
Descriptive Rules Used
Describing Archives: a Content Standard (DACS)
Archives Processing Manual: Description (2015)
Access & Use
Finding Aids
Finding Aid available.
Access Conditions
This collection is open for research. There are no restricted materials.
Conditions Governing Reproductions and Use
Permission is required for all reproduction requests. Copyright maintained by creator.
Subject Headings
Creators
FORCE: Upsetting Rape Culture
Covert, Charnell
Cadoux, E
Brancato, Hannah
Fernandez, Mora
Nagle, Rebecca
Marquis, Robin
Agostini, Saida Agostini
Flagg, Shanti
Subjects
Intimate partner violence– United States
MeToo movement
Public art
Quilts
Rape culture– United States.
Sexual assault
Sexual violence
Series Description & Container List
Series I: Monument Quilts
Date: undated
Description:
Series I: Monument Quilts is made up of 31 quilts from FORCE’s Monument Quilt Collection created by members of the UMBC community. Items are organized in numerical order assigned by the donor.
| Folder Title/Description | Date | Box # | Folder # | Additional Info. |
| Quilt # 33
“Take the power away from the one that hurt you… Move forward and turn the pain into strength, You have no power over me/ Don’t judge yourself by what others did to you/ Rape is a coward hiding its face in the makeup of (illegible)/ Lesbian survivors rule, we are strong, we are loved/ (female symbol)/ No means no, no means no Respect/ No means no/ Silence is the enemy, be heard, Ask first, no means no/ Consent/ Domestic violence, no means no/ Stay strong/ No means no, consent yiou deserve, no rape abuse, fly!, trust/ No means no so stop asking/ You are not alone, love unity hope/ no means no/ No No speak up, brak the silence/ No means no, protect yourself/ Catcalling makes you a dog/ It’s mine Nachos!/ Tell us what you wouldsay to a harrasser if it was safe/ I don’t look sexy for you/ Dear street harrassers, you make me ashamed of my gender and my orientation -Michael/ You are the insane one, motherfucker/ You are a filthy and pathetic being. Fuck you/ Shut up, have some empathy asshole/ Whistling is for the birds, stop doing it at me!!!/ Fuck off, fuck off, No asshole. and also I feel scared and violated/ I will fight you” (188, 189, 428, 429)
|
undated | 1 | Description | |
| Quilt # 34
“From a quiet moment in the Women’s Center, after another Take Back The Night… after another email from asurvivor whose professor blames her… after another phone call assigning me to a new ‘case’… after another hour of teaching men about rape culture… I AM A BOWL I hold things… and sometimes nothing at all… and sometimes everything… ‘My friend told me to come to the Women’s Center because you’re nice.’ Empty. ‘You are brave’ Just breathe. Ineffective. Alcohol doesn’t equate consent. Shocked. Scared. Sad. Pain. ‘I don’t want to get them in trouble.’ The other day I walked by the place you were assaulted and I couldn’t stop thinking about you. ‘I don’t want to use them as a resource, they never picked up the phone.’ FULL. Shocked. Numb. Anger. Relieved. I tell myself… don’t cry & sometimes I think I’ve forgotten how to cry… I believe you. It’s okay to cry. Spilling over… Dead inside or maybe I’m just a robot. ‘My firend has noone to talk to because she doesn’t want to report it.’ Rushed. ‘My parents will blame me.’ I close the dorr and sometimes just cry. ‘No one else listened to me until I talked to you.'”/ My body was a time machine. I disassociated during sex for years after I was raped. My (visoris – illegible) were beautiful …and totalizing. Eventually by naming my experience and taking care of myself, I (re)discovered intimacy./ Inspire/ STOP M.R.!! -Murder -Rape (2, 8, 19, 23)
|
undated | 1 | Description | |
| Quilt # 104
“Objectification, Confusion, Slander, Avoidance, Time, Blame, Ignorance, Self-loathing, Shame, Fear, Denial, Rage, Apathy, Isolation, Silence, When I was a child someone I trusted took advantage. I was passive but never at peace. Silent, until I had a friend who helped me find a voice, wholistened to my story./ I wore this outfit home after the night I was raped. I’ve had it hidden in my closet for all these months and I don’t know why I haven’t thrown them away. It is just a reminder of that night where I trusted a friend but ended up being used in a sick game. And now I am freeing myself of it. Just another step in the journey of healing. I am a survivor. I am strong. (written on a pair of gym shorts with a t-shirt next to it) Strong/ My sister was raped and it brought a rage and saddness I’ve never felt. His actions affected me, my family, and everyone (illegible) my sister. He was not entitled to her. My fear is that he will never pay and will go on assuming that any woman is his to take.” (10, 20, 21, 22)
|
undated | 1 | Description | |
| Quilt # 131
“Not your fault/ I know you feel you can’t come home. I am here for youwhen you do and also if you don’t you are loved/ You are not [less than], you are strong/ I love you” (3248, 3249, 3250, 3251)
|
undated | 2 | Description | |
| Quilt # 136
“Consent is beautiful. Respect one’s agency. Share knowledge. Spread wealth/ Listen to the victims of sexual violence. Ignorance may be part of the problem. Learn Say something. Do something/ Coersion does not equal consent/ I believe in you. You are strong, beautiful & amazing/ LGBTQQ survivors experiences are valid. Believe us/ Free Tondalo Hall!” (567, 568, 569, 570)
|
undated | 2 | Description | |
| Quilt # 144
“Sometimes even to live is an act of courage/ All women deserve -a voice -safety -security -love -support #blacklivesmatter/ We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit to changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty – Maya Angelou/ You are beautiful, You are loved, You are wanted, You are worthy, Our past does not define us.” (613, 614, 615, 616)
|
undated | 3 | Description | |
| Quilt # 146
“Don’t judge yourself by what others did to you/ We are free together or slaves together… I cared about this pain. My mistake/ Break the silence with your strength & love/ Love yourself/ No means no/ Dear world, we are beast/ (illegible) sasha, alex/ Listen from your heart” (622, 623, 624, 662)
|
undated | 3 | Description | |
| Quilt # 157
“I became stronger because you were weak and thought I was easy, You are not alone, Every woman & girl in my family” (553, 948, 949)
|
undated | 4 | Description | |
| Quilt # 193
“Love heals wounds, Patient love is real, Unconditional love means without conditions, Ilove me so that I can really show you what love is, Love is forever, of God, our father amer/ I went to church just like my mother, there metmet the biggest sinners. We could fill a hymal with these sorrow songs. They couldn’t stop us from singing/ sit, write, reflect” (2604, 2690)
|
undated | 4 | Description | |
| Quilt # 222
“If we give our children sound, self-love, they will be able to deal with whatever life puts before them. – bell hooks/ You R always yours/ We shall overcome. I am mine before I am anyone else’s/ It’s not your fault, it’s our responsibility/ You’re not alone, I care about victims” (1069, 1070, 1071, 1072)
|
undated | 5 | Description | |
| Quilt # 230
“Whatever you decide to do now is the right decision/ You are not alone, As a woman the question should not be who’s going to let me; it should be who’s going to stop me/ Listen to me please/ Let your voice be heard, yell! shout!/ The only way to go is up” (870, 871, 1128, 1130)
|
undated | 5 | Description | |
| Quilt # 240
“Unseen to seen,/ unheard to heard, forgotten to remembered,/ Stay encouraged love,/ Cover by the blood, peace happinessjesus believe,/ Tell your story, you’re not alone, UMBC ASB 2016” (1186, 1187, 1188, 1189)
|
undated | 6 | Description | |
| Quilt # 241
“Love yourself,/ Love love love love…,/ I love you” (1182, 1183, 1184, 1185)
|
undated | 6 | Description | |
| Quilt # 254
“Love, hope, justice, growth, forgivness, safety, hope, survivor, joy, overcome, faith, healing encouragement, self-care, sisterhood, friendship, peace, courage, support, freedom, independence/ Ask B4 you do something/ Consent is step one/ Did I say you sould do it?/ No means no, yes means yes, wherever I go, however we dress…/ Permission/ “My body” “My birth” “My decision” “I demand consent”/ Consent is key/ Learn to say no without x-plaining yaself/ Lord you are good and I will trust you, I am survived, I am haled, I have forgiven, I am moving on/ We’re here, we’re listening” (1263, 1269, 1273, 1274)
|
undated | 7 | Description | |
| Quilt # 255
“Consent, consent… Come together/ Peace Love Jesus” (1276, 1277, 1278, 1279)
|
undated | 7 | Description | |
| Quilt # 311
“Slumber does not equal consent, I didn’t know that every little bot didn’t go through what this one little boy did!, Joi! Black Lives MAtter 2015, Peace Love Laugh Live” (1564, 1565, 1566, 1567)
|
undated | 8 | Description | |
| Quilt # 329
“I am God child/ Just look up and see how beautiful you are/ You are #1,they are sick” (1495, 1496, 1497, 1498)
|
undated | 8 | Description | |
| Quilt # 330
“No means no, ASK, Your strong, Love, I hate it because… it doesn’t leave coersion, Self doubt manipulation, there are reasons we are angry, Please leave my mind: my sacred contaminated place, Can you stop asking me to explain myself, Was it rape? My patience is wearing thin, Why is rape so common? Be willing to change yourself, Free yourself, you are safe now (1568,1569,1570,1571)
|
undated | 9 | Description | |
| Quilt # 375
“Sisterhood, Yo are not alone your voice matter Pain hurt peace, Yes, yes I do have the right to be this lush and neverending – nayyirah waheed, Like a pheonix i rise” (1741, 1743, 1744, 1749)
|
undated | 9 | Description | |
| Quilt # 413
“To my abusive fucking family: I can’t say I hate you because as hard as I try I still aim for your approval. Even after you emoyionally & financially abandoned me after confronting the monster who raped me. Some of you have tried to forget what happened and have loved me the same way (thank you sister) but others haven’t spoken to me since (all my aunts, uncles, and cousins). I can’t forgive any of you for taking his side over mine, even you sister, who never took a side. I felt more abandoned, scared, and alone than I have ever felt in my life. It impacts meto this day. I can’t maintain relationships because I can’t trust anyone anymore. You triggered the borderline personality that impacts me everyday, every hour, asleep or awake. I have no resolution to these feelings, but at leasr I know what I can achieve alone./ She told me I was fucking stupid. I told her no, she was wrong. She said to ‘shut the fuck up and listen to her.’ I said no.” (1874, 1875, 1876, 1877)
|
undated | 10 | Description | |
| Quilt # 415
“I stand in solidarity with survivors of rape and abuse. I don’t know what it’s like to be a survivor, but I know what it’s like to live in fear and to watch your every action to avoid something from happening – to not walk alone, to watch what you wear… well screw that. You deserve to be honored. You deserve a voice. You deserve to be heard./ We were already sleeping together so he assumed my ‘no’ was really a ‘yes.’ It was still assault. I use what happened to me to give a voice to survivors. We are not alone./ (illegible) love! peace!/ I was feeling hollow after processing all the attacks on my physical body – keyword physical… not my mental or spiritual bodies. Our physical bodies are valuable shells that protect our cores. Sometimes weaker individuals, under the guise of strength, attempt to shatter the shells. Their violent behaviors are proof of their own insecurities and lack of self-love. If you are a survivor of any sexual trauma, understand that it was merely a crack to your shell. The core remains. Love you all. -You are free -You are loved -It’s their problem -Not yours, don’t take on their battles. -Laik” (1882, 1883, 1884, 1885)
|
undated | 10 | Description | |
| Quilt # 423
“I didn’t have the words to descibe what ALMOST happened to me until I listened tto the stories from my friends who ALMOST got away. My ALMOST was the same. I am not lucky. ALMOST is not okay. /I felt shame for the longest time because it felt good physically but you know what? It did not/was not good emotionally #iamfree #umbc2015 /You are beautiful and no one can change that or take that beauty from you./ Your fingers left permanent bruises on my skin only I can see. But my body is still mine./ My sexuality is still my own. I don’t belong to you. I will always belong to myslef./ YES means YES. NO means NO. Whatever we wear, wherever we go. UMBC TBTN ’15/ Power in numbers Share your story!/ Your story is valid/ It’s con-sensual if it’s NOT consensual/ No means no, Consent is sexy/ Saying yes sober is consent/ Let’s build a community to end rape culture/ Standing together & standing strong to end rape culture once & for all/ UMBC supports survivors/ [Impact>Intent] You didn’t have to “mean it” for it to tear me apart.Now, I’m stronger. You are no longer my ghost. You hold no power. I am stronger than ever now./ I stand with survivors, End racism & sexism/ I will speak out! I will not be silenced or shamed/ We are valuable, necessary, strong, survivors/ Silence has the rusty taste of shame, Fight institutional betrayal/ Consent every day in every way/ Respect my womyn/ You can heal!/ 1, 2, 3, 4… We won’t take it anymore! 5, 6, 7, 8… No more violence! No more hate!/ My voice will NOT be silenced/ “Yes” does not mean YES when “no” cannot be said. My story matters/ Everyone’s experience is valid.Support survivors/ No more silence Nomore violence/ You are tougher than your toughest days!/ Consent is mandatory, no excuses UMBC TBTN ’15/ I shared my assault with you and your response was “I think you’re taking it a little too far… ifyou took it to court it wouldn’t be considered rape.” A part of me died along with our friendship that day./ Fuck you. I won’t do what you tell me, motherfucker (2448, 2449, 2450, 2451)
|
undated | 11 | Description | |
| Quilt # 542
“4 years you asked me to be silentand I still can’t speak/ The girl he touched is not here. I carry her heart & her / He took advantage of me – Mayella Rape is real Life is real Should women be prosecuted for lyingabout rape?/ Fuck you!! too” (1906, 1910, 1912, 1913)
|
undated | 11 | Description | |
| Quilt # 543
“You are not alone, your fight isn’t over, /Alejandro you…#notmetoo but you. I want to SCREAM your name. You are a bad man…but I saty quiet…I whisoer your name… to keep it safe. to keep you safe…and me too. I hate that I hate you./ Stay strong, You didn’t ask for it, #Slience means no, You are worthy just breathe,You are so strong/ No -shirt -shoes -pants does not mean consent, It’s a (spiral symbol)” (2452, 2453,2454, 2455)
|
undated | 12 | Description | |
| Quilt # 545
“I still find it hard to use words to describe how I felt then, how I feel now, no one wants to relive that experience, the numbness of fear, the realizationof powerlessness. the anger the shame afterwards. The fear that no one will listen,that you will be stigmatized by an act that was by NO means your fault. But I’m getting there day by day – recognizing from this project that I, and other survivors, are not alone in our fears and struggles; finding a voice to face that this actually happened to me, when I thought statistics would be on my side, I’m glad to see this community come together to acknowledge our feelings and experiences. Scars are tattoos with better stories. Thank you for sharing yours, and for giving me the chance to share mine./ I don’t talk about it because I don’t know how. But… I find solidarity in knowing I don’t have to. Despite it all, I will live everyday unapologetically. I will be confident in knowing that everything will be okay. ?I’m not some delicate, fragile little flower. I wasn’t deflowered, marked, or tainted. I lost nothing and they took nothing. I am a whole human being. I am not a flower whose petals have been plucked with each repeated abuse and every new offender. I am not an object that can easily be held and manipulated by the hand. I am a strong tree that stops you in your path and refuses to move from my place where my roots grow deep and firmly to the ground. I am a survivor and I am powerful. /It’s not your fault, You are not alone I love you so much, I’m always here for you!” (2244, 2257, 2460, 2564)
|
undated | 12 | Description | |
| Quilt # 547
“I was 12 years old when my best friend and her brother had made the plan to have him rape me. He was 21. I went over to their house for a sleepover, but things did not go as planned. I walked into their house, he immediately grabbed me, put me over his sholder, and carried me into the basement. My bestfriend locked the door. I repeatedly said no. Her other brother came down and stopped it. Their father who was a cop walked up to me while I was on the floor having a panic attack and said, “Don’t you think you are too young for him?” It was not my fault!/ ‘Ithough it was okay because you were talking about wearinng a revealing bathingsuit…’/ It started when I was 6/ Remember when you told me I’d be nothing. But look who’s life is rising, mine not yours. #youracoward #youralwaysafuckboy” (2573, 2574, 2575, 2576)
|
undated | 13 | Description | |
| Quilt # 553
“It’s o.k. not to be o.k.!, Breathe & cry, Take the time and space you need, It wasn’t okay, you don’t have to be, It hurts, it’s hard, that’s ok/ Me too!/ His emotional abuse crushed my spirit. Never will I walk on eggshells to protect his self-esteem./ I don’t remember how old I was when it started. I’ve healed but the scar remains, sodoes momentary trauma. It’ll get better!’ (2565, 2566, 2567,2568)
|
undated | 13 | Description | |
| Quilt # 556
“Yes means yes, no means no/ Dedicated to all survivors. May all victims heal. May all children be safe. I was 11 and 12 when my grandfather abused me. I am 47 and still healing/ Don’t give up, don’t lose hope, we’re here for you/ No does not mean convince me” (2468, 2609, 2610, 2611)
|
undated | 14 | Description | |
| Quilt # 557
“Your Mind, heart, soul, body, voice matters/ You took my choice, not my story, not my life. You robbed me, the cost was mine to hold. Tangled in nightmares, praying for you to d.i.e. Not anymore. You triggered this transformation. I choose to forgive, to love again. Like a new butterfly: sweet metamorphisis/ It’s okat if you’re not okay/ Love is not violence” (2605, 2606, 2607, 2608)
|
undated | 14 | Description | |
| Quilt # 737
“Who do you think you are?, What happened does not define me, I don’t owe you SHIT, My body my choice, Unbreakable” (3253, 3254,3255)
|
undated | 15 | Description | |
| Quilt # 745
“Dear Survivor, I hear you, I love you, I believe you/ Smile/ To my dearest friend, you are never alone. I will always love you, be thereto lisren, to support you, I will be here for you./ You broke me. You stole my life to the point where I didn’t want to live! Some days it feels like I can’t breathe/ (IT) does not define you. You are more than, greater than, and better than (IT). Be bold, be strong, strong, strong. Shakti Roar/ Your story is important, you are a survivor/ Even if the world runs away I will stand by you/ My story. He was my boyfriend. He was in the Army and we had just started dating. I was on my period so I didn’t want to have sex. He forcefully pulls down my pants and forces himself into me, shoved my tampon all the way back, I told him no, he didn’t listen. Until thisI have been quiet. I wish I would’ve said something sooner. / I believe you/ Love yourself 1st/ We stand with you.”
|
undated | 15 | Description |
Series II: Digital Materials
Date: undated
Description:
Series II: Digital Materials contain digital O:Drive information pertaining to the Monument Quilt Collection process and exhibition.