Flyers taped along Spring Garden Road in Halifax have become quiet calls to action. Watercolour images of flowers, doves, and watermelon slices frame a QR code and an invitation that reads “Nova Scotia Grief and Solidarity Quilt for Palestine.” The posters, placed by textile artist and literacy advocate Kelly Bee, are drawing artists and activists from across the province into a collaborative art project aimed at both healing and resistance.
What began as a personal response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has transformed into a growing, provincewide art and fundraising initiative. Bee, who moved from Toronto to Halifax four years ago to be closer to family, describes the project as a response to collective grief and a call for unity.
“I am one person who felt like I wanted to do something and not sit on my hands while a genocide happens,” Bee said. “I now have a ton of community partners who have come on board over the last few weeks. They have come together for this co-created community art project and fundraiser. The Nova Scotia grief and solidarity quilt for Palestine.”
Community members are invited to create quilt squares—each one a personal expression of solidarity, grief, and hope. These squares will be stitched together into multiple large quilts, which will be displayed in galleries and community spaces across the province before being raffled off. The proceeds will go directly to humanitarian aid in Gaza.
“I first thought we were going to have 12 artists working on one quilt,” Bee reflected. “But now I think we are going to have 12 quilts with over 100 artists.”
The upcoming NS Writers’ Quilting Event is scheduled for Sunday, July 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Dart Gallery at 127 Portland St. in Dartmouth. The gathering will provide space for writers, artists, and supporters to come together, contribute to the quilt, and reflect through art.
“This project is for artists and activists of all mediums and skill levels,” Bee emphasized in an online post. “The best time to speak up will always feel like yesterday but the next best time is today, and tomorrow, and every day after. Every one of you who have messaged and said you aren’t a ‘real’ artist… I assure you, your voice and intention makes you one.”
Bee’s own journey into textile art began in 2020 when they learned to sew by making masks during the pandemic. A mixed-media artist and self-described “art school dropout,” Bee blends creative expression with social justice in a way that feels natural. “This is my first collaborative art project,” they said, “I have always been active in supporting community effort and social outreach projects.” They are a part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and have been walking in Pride parades since they were a kid. They have also volunteered at The Shoebox Project, an initiative supporting women in shelters. ”Activism has always been a part of my life.”
“I have been aware about apartheid and genocide in Palestine before October 7th,” Bee said. “I have American Palestinian friends who have kept me in the loop. I have noticed that a lot of people from Halifax have been concerned but have not had an opportunity to come together. They have felt isolated and have been looking for a way to connect with others who are also concerned.”
That desire for connection through creativity lies at the heart of the inniative. “Art is such a powerful way to connect with people and it is so different from protest,” Bee noted.
The project is already expanding beyond Halifax. The Palestine Solidarity group in Cape Breton has reached out to coordinate a regional contribution, with local organizations reaching out to show their support. Events have been held at venues like The Trainyard Store in Dartmouth, and upcoming sessions are planned for The Bus Stop Theatre and other spaces. Quilt squares will be accepted until the end of summer, and participants are reaching out through Instagram to get involved.
Bee was inspired by international solidarity projects such as the Quilt for Palestine in the UK, and movements like “Stitch Their Names” and “An Inch for The Death,” where micro-quilts were sewn as tributes to victims.
“Art brings a context when we are only seeing headlines,” Bee said. “The visual representation of art can help make an impact to someone who may be only seeing the horrific atrocities on the evening news.”
Among the powerful symbols emerging from from Palestine is the watermelon. “An artist saw that the watermelon had all the same colours as the Palestinian flag,” Bee explained. Then the artists made art using watermelons, so that they could still maintain pride and show the Palestinian colours.”
With squares continuing to come in and community support growing, Bee hopes the project takes on a life of its own. “I would love for the community to take on this initiative and run with it.”
For Bee, the most important part is that “anyone can do it. There is no barrier to entry and no one can stop you.”
This article appears in Jul 1-31, 2025.