“Carle’s Comfort Kitchen” was created to allow visitors of The Monument Quilt's 2016 display in Baltimore, MD the opportunity to reflect on messages from survivor’s quilts over a slice of homemade pie in the “kitchen” or “dining room” and partake in our knitting workshop in the “living room” space led by cross-disciplinary artist Aaron McIntosh. The inspiration for this intervention came from my late grandmother Carle Gainey. As a childhood survivor of domestic violence and a survivor of sexual assault in my late teens, my grandmother’s home was always a loving space where I felt safe and protected. The intention of this work was to provide the same feeling of security I received in my grandmother’s home to survivors and supporters visiting the quilt display. All pie was complimentary for visitors of the quilt display, but financial donations were welcome, with 100% donated to FORCE. All Carle’s Comfort Kitchen furniture was donated by Second Chance and sold with proceeds going to area organizations helping survivors escaping domestic violence.
