This beautiful hand-stitched tapestry, created by Edina Wanicinge, an artist from Threads of Blessing, is titled "Jesus Heals the Blind Man." The piece measures 10 x 9 inches. The strength of this work lies in the positioning of the figures. The man being healed sits with his back to the viewer, while his mat extends off the picture plane. Jesus, along with two onlookers, face outward. Edina's arrangement of the figures allows the viewer to become part of the scene, serving as another witness to the miracle. Her meticulous attention to color and detail in the men's clothing, along with the brightly patterned mat, creates a stark contrast against the muted background of the city walls and surrounding hills.
Edina lives in a small village called Zomba in the Nebbi district of northwest Uganda. Nebbi borders Lake Albert to the south, the River Nile to the east, and the Congo to the west. Zomba is a fishing village on the River Nile.
Living in a mud hut with a thatched roof, Edna’s life revolves around caring for her family and her crops. She will use the funds she receives from her needle work to provide education for her children, medical support for herself and her family, seeds or fertilizer for her crops, repairs to her home, or even begin to build a new one, and provision for any orphans for whom she cares as a result of the war, HIV AIDS, or other illnesses.
Edina meets weekly with her fellow needle workers. The community they have developed through Threads of Blessing encourages each of them and has significantly raised their self-esteem.
