This week I want to share one of the quilts at Sacred Threads that really captured my imagination. This Orca Whale portrait (above, on the left) is a snapshot of the moment when the whale is breaching the water, but shows the whole whale above and below the water. It is by artist Suzette Coppage. No photo can do justice to her beautiful machine stitching, but I hope you will get an idea from this photo.
From the NOAA website page on fisheries:
Orcas are also known as Killer Whales, and they are the top predators in the ocean. Overfishing and habitat loss have decreased the amount of prey available to some killer whales. Without enough prey, killer whales can experience decreased reproductive rates and increased mortality rates.
Toxins enter ocean waters and sediments from many sources, such as wastewater treatment plants, sewer outfalls, and pesticide application. Once in the environment, these contaminants move up the food web and accumulate in top predators, such as killer whales because of their long lifespan. These contaminants can harm killer whales’ immune and reproductive systems. Oil spills can also have an indirect impact on killer whales by affecting the abundance of prey species.
There has been a sustained effort to free captive Orcas that were held for our entertainment. Remember the movie “Free Willy”? I think most people now understand that a creature this big should not be held captive. I hope some day to see Orcas in the wild. Over the years I have seen other whales, dolphins and porpoises off the coasts of Hawaii, Washington State, and Canada. It is always a thrill to see these beautiful intelligent sea mammals coming up for air and then diving again.
Are you coming to the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham UK? Register now for my power point lecture “International Quilt Trends” on Friday at 10 am, lecture code #512. You will be inspired!
Sharing your love of fabric,
Luana and Paul
** The photo collage above features the Orca quilt by Suzette Coppage, photographed at Sacred Threads exhibit.
See Luana’s Flickr Photo Pages for travel images, watch our videos, or follow us on Facebook.
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Quilt/Travel/Sponsor Calendar:
Aug 17-20 – Festival of Quilts – Birmingham UK – Quilt Trends Lecture & SAQA Forced to Flee
(Register for Luana’s trend lecture – Friday 10 am.)
Sept 21-24 – SAQA Conference – San Diego CA
October 2022 – Luana’s Polar Bear Tour – Churchill Manitoba Canada
