Vanha-Maahi centers around the Kalevala, the national epic of Finland that is based around folklore and mythology. I use the long-established American practice of quiltmaking, which developed as a communicative tool, to pass down generational stories. I use vernacular images of my family to connect to my Finnish roots, relating members of my family to characters in the Kalevala. In the quilt, each photographic fabric block corresponds to one of the runes in the national epic. Select images on the quilt have accompanying audio read by my family, reciting a few lines from each selected story. This audio is played over a common Finnish lullaby, Nuku Nuku. Parts of the background are naturally dyed blue with indigo to reference the Finnish flag and its spiritual symbolism. I connect with my Finnish-American heritage through merging traditional values from each to transcend the feeling of domesticity, nostalgia, and time.
