#sparkchamber 083021 — Amanda Davis
As we near the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on America, #sparkchamber is shining a light on the amazing story of the National 9/11 Flag, brought to life in the book 30,000 Stitches by educator, creator, author, and #sparkchamber alum, Amanda Davis.
In the days following September 11th, a 30-foot American flag hung torn and tattered at 90 West Street, across from Ground Zero. A few weeks later, the flag was taken down by a construction crew and tucked away in storage, where it stayed for nearly seven years.
The flag was brought out of storage in 2008 when the New York Says Thank You Foundation headed to Greensburg, Kansas, a town nearly destroyed by a tornado. NYSTY brought the flag with them, sparking a grassroots restoration effort that traveled over 120,000 miles across all fifty states, bringing together thousands of people, and helping America heal and rebuild … hand by hand, thread by thread, one stitch at a time.
Amanda’s book tells the story of that journey, a journey that ended at the opening of the National September 11 Museum where the flag remains today. Along the way, the flag was restored using pieces of retired flags from every state — including a piece of the flag on which Abraham Lincoln was laid after he was shot at Ford’s Theater, and threads from the original Star-Spangled-Banner flag, which flew at Fort McHenry in the War of 1812 and which inspired Francis Scott Key to write the national anthem. The pieces and threads were stitched in by military veterans, first responders, educators, students, community-service heroes, and family members of 9/11 victims, among others. At each stop, communities came together to remember, to heal, and to unite.
A truly beautiful book, both inspirational in its telling of history, and powerfully restorative in these turbulent present times.
Here are Amanda’s thoughts on the creative process, originally posted on February 17, 2020:
1.] Where do ideas come from?
… Most of my ideas tend to come from my own life experiences. Whether from childhood or current day, I have always used my art as a voice to tell stories with the hope and desire that others can connect and relate. Most of my ideas tend to come either in the car, shower, or in nature. I also like to write and research for nonfiction work, so I may see something in the news or media that sounds interesting and decide to do further research. One thing I’ve learned over the years is that you never know when an idea will strike. I’ve also learned not to judge my ideas or my art. I encourage this with my students, too. Write ALL ideas down or sketch them out. No matter what. A simple seed of a word or scribbly sketch, may one day sprout into a full-fledged masterpiece of a garden.
2.] What is the itch you are scratching?
The itch that I am scratching is release. When I create, I can get lost in the work for hours. I believe in the psychology world this is referred to as the cognitive state of “flow” or the mental state of “being in the zone.” Researchers say this is an essential part of doing meaningful, deep work, which in turn can lead to a happier and more enjoyable life. When I’m creating, I know I have reached this state, when my process feels right and natural. I feel full to the brim and my well is overflowing. I don’t always reach this state of mind when I create but when I do, it is glorious. My other motivation comes from wishing and hoping that my work will have an impact on the world. Whether in the classroom with my students or with a person in another country who may read my writing or appreciate and connect with my art, the arts are so powerful, and I’m grateful that I can share these gifts with the world.
3.] Early bird or night owl? Tortoise or hare?
In the writing world, we call it BIC or Butt in Chair! You have to make the time in order to get the work done. My time to write and create comes whenever I can carve it out. Sometimes that is on the weekends or sometimes that is late into the night. I also carry sketchbooks and notebooks so I can jot things down throughout my day. Finding time to balance and restore also helps with my productivity. To do this, I practice yoga and meditation, which clears my mind for new, fresh ideas. I also meet with a monthly critique group who I lean on for advice, encouragement, growth, and accountability. They’re my accountabilibuddies! :) It’s important to have this supportive community to help me work towards accomplishing my goals and dreams. It also feels good that I can help them to do the same.
4.] How do you know when you are done?
Oh my! This is an age-old question for me. I don’t think I ever know when I’m done! With that said, after both my writing and art have gone through numerous rounds of revisions — whether with my critique partners or industry professionals — I know I am getting closer to calling it done. If the focus of revisions becomes more micro instead of macro such as, line edits or small tweaks to my art, I also know I am close to the end. I don’t know if as a creator, I am ever fully satisfied with my work. I could always find something to modify but there does come a point where you have to take a breather and call it done. If I’m really struggling with this, I may end up shelving a story for a while or putting an art piece aside to simmer. Then, I can come back to it with a clear mind to see if there is anything else I may want to change before sending it out into the world.
