Join other concerned citizens to make fabric braids that will be woven together into a huge #NoPipelines fabric sculpture, "The Ties That Bind." Come see your work displayed at the Staunton Innovation Hub in May.

Ecoartist and poet Amelia L. Williams is coordinating community and environmental organizations, artists and concerned citizens to create a communally-made work in protest of the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline and Mountain Valley Pipeline.

We will be making long fabric braids, adding decorative elements, and words of protest, hope, and support. You are invited to bring fabric that comes from your life, tells a story, or is linked to your pipeline resistance.

The art project will be followed by a short walk by water and to a climax beech knoll if there is time.

Fabric strips and all necessary materials will be provided, but your braid may be more special if you bring your own strips at least 4 feet long or enough pieces to knot together to make three 4-5 ft strips:

1. I love winter on the farm; this old scarf has seen me through some cold ones. May it help protect our land from the pipeline.
2. I live in a city. The pipeline won’t be in my backyard, but I have learned how pipelines leak methane and make climate change worse, so I brought 3 green fabrics to show my care for the earth.
3. I hike in the National Forest and don't want the pipeline to cross the Appalachian Trail. I brought some old jeans and t-shirts I used to wear hiking.
4. This is my son’s childhood twin bed set. The compressor station could affect childrens’ health and increase rates of asthma so I want to protect the children.
5. I'm braiding old shirts and leaving the pockets accessible with "no pipelines" messages tucked inside.