A Book as a Bridge among Religions

On February 18th 2017, I sat in High Line Park in New York City near 34th St. with my sewing machine, a 20 foot long accordion book and a flyer describing my art practice. It was a busy afternoon and several people came over to ask me questions. In response I asked them to sit with me and choose a pattern for my sewing machine to sew with. I then asked them: “What do you believe in?” and kept sewing with the pattern of their choice  for as long as they were willing to talk. Most people were tourists from various countries and chose to talk with me because I told them the finished book would go to the “Today I am a Muslim too” Rally at Time Square on February 19th, however I was surprised quite a few people chose not to participate because they did not agree with the purpose of my book: linking religious beliefs and stories with a thread, bridging differences together in a book. Each participant chose one of the sixty+ patterns available. 

The next day, February 19th 2017 while at the Time Square Rally “I Am a Muslim Too” I asked participants to hold it and I took these pictures.