In February 2022, I began experimenting with block printing on fabric to create special artwork to raise money for those fleeing Ukraine. I created a Ukrainian flower design hand carved blocks that I printed on hand-dyed bandanas. I dyed the cotton bandanas with natural ingredients like tumeric, coffee, black beans and beets and block printed each one with fabric inks. I was able to sell dozens of bandanas at a local fundraiser art event at Artemisia Studios. I donated half of the sales from my bandanas to the UN Humanitarian relief fund to help Ukrainians in need and half went back to the project. I continued creating bandanas for Ukraine and selling them online and through word of mouth. I met a local Ukrainian who has been helping to evacuate his family and friends who are still in Ukraine. I began donating some of the profits from my bandanas directly to Boris to help him with relocation efforts. As the project continued to grow I decided to name it the Immigrant Aid Print Project and expand it to support all immigrants.
In April 2022, my friend and fellow mom artist Kristine Palmer and I collaborated on a tulip design for Afghanistan. We also increased our natural dye process and our materials to include totes, towels and aprons. Our kids, Elliott (6), Olivia (7), Elijah (3), and Cassidy (2) help us with the natural dyeing and block printing. The money from the Afghanistan prints is donated to the Northern Nevada International Center to help Afghanistan families who have relocated to Northern Nevada.
At the 2022 Reno Punk Rock Flea Market, I set up my first ever booth as the Immigrant Aid Print Project and sold out of my bandanas on the first day! On the second day of the event, I live printed more bandanas during the event and many attendees stopped by to ask me about my process and the project. Over the weekend I was able to make over $500 for the project and significantly raise awareness about immigrant aid. My friend Taylor also contributed her block print blocks so I could add even more artistic elements to my work. The natural collaboration that continues to arise with other female artists in Reno/Tahoe has been an unforeseen development that I’ve really enjoyed and I believe it will continue to grow as the project continues to unfold.
I’m excited to continue to grow this project, to help more people and bring more awareness to immigrant groups in need and destigmatize the concept of being an immigrant in America.
In the Summer of 2021, Burners Without Borders awarded the Immigrant Aid Print Project the MRS Civic Ignition Grant to support the development of block printing workshops in Northern Nevada. The Nevada Arts Council also awarded the project a grant in 2021, through this grant over 5 workshops and 3 print sessions were able to take place in Reno/Sparks.
Refugees Currently Supported by the Project
Ukrainian Refugees
Funds from the sale of Immigrant Aid Print Project items are donated to the UN Humanitarian Relief fund to help Ukrainians during wartime.
Afghanistan Refugees
Funds from the sale of Immigrant Aid Print Project items are donated to the Northern Nevada International Center to assist in the relocation of Afghan refugees to Nevada.