Women of the Congo

Dimensions: 26" x 42"
Materials: #5-, 6-, and 8-cut wool on linen
Designed and hooked by Donna Hrkman, Dayton, Ohio, 2005.
Featured in: Celebration XVI

"I was a new rug hooker when I watched the Oprah Show about women survivors of genocide in the Congo. It left an indelible mark on my heart and compelled me to create an art rug that expressed my feelings of great sadness. The mother and child image is a timeless example of love and endurance.

I was hooking with eight cuts then, so the challenge for me was to make an artistic statement in realistic style that would convey emotion. I used spot dyes and textures to achieve the look and feeling I wanted to share. I wanted their faces to show that look of despair yet also express hope. And to remind everyone how fragile life can be."
- Donna Hrkman, Celebration Hall of Fame 2018