Ceramic tiles in mosaic quilt a source of strength for abuse victims

Published: Friday, May 16, 2014, 8:57p.m.

Each of the 96 hand-painted tile bears a heartfelt message.

Created by women, men and children from all walks of life, the 6-by-6-inch ceramic squares are connected to form a quilt mosaic that represents the strength the creators offer to victims of domestic violence.

What started as just an idea has blossomed into this, said Candi Castleberry Singleton, standing in front of the work at a reception May 15 at the Society for Contemporary Craft, Strip District. It brought people together who may never have met without this project. Pittsburgh has wonderful people who have the potential to accomplish great things. I was emotional when I saw the finished quilt.

The project began as an effort for Women's History Month. It was the brainchild of co-creators Castleberry Singleton and Georgia Berner, president and CEO of Berner International in New Castle, a long-time supporter of women's causes.

They decided the finished product would be donated to the Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, which helps about 7,000 adult victims of domestic violence women and men in the city of Pittsburgh every year. Domestic violence knows no age, race, sexual orientation or ethnicity. Over 85 percent of victims are women, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. One in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime.

We can do so many things that can have a lasting impact on women in crisis situations, said Castleberry Singleton, chair of the Women and Girls Foundation board and founder of The Dignity & Respect Campaign of Greater Pittsburgh, which sponsored the ceramic tile quilting event. There are some extremely inspirational messages on those tiles.

The finished work is 88 inches by 46 inches. It weighs 100 pounds.

If we all treat each other with dignity and respect, we can create a better world, Castleberry Singleton said. Something as small as saying hello' to a stranger makes a big difference in someone's life. We can make Pittsburgh a better place for women and men and children to live by showing dignity and respect. Every time I look at the quilt, I see something different.

Individuals from various nonprofit organizations that help make Pittsburgh a better place for women were invited to participate.

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Ceramic tiles in mosaic quilt a source of strength for abuse victims