Washing line in Rainbow Colors – a Friendly Gesture

Press release by Heidi Lunabba and Gunilla Persson

To celebrate that our equal [same-sex] marriage law finally goes into effect in Finland, we’ll hang a washing line in rainbow colors at the entrance to the Kabelfabriken (the Cable factory) in Helsinki, Finland on March 1, 2017. The washing line will be a flag for diversity at the Kabelfabriken at regular intervals during the 100 year anniversary of Finland’s independence. The artists behind the Tvättlina/Washing line and the Culture for all project Finland 100 in rainbow colors and SETA invites anyone who wants to celebrate the equal marriage law to make their own washing line. Among others the Helsinki City Museum and Stoa kulturcentrum in Helsinki will hang Washing lines in rainbow colors on March 1, 2017.

INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE:
Tvättlina/Washing line is an art project where you are hanging out laundry in rainbow colors to show that you are friendly to HLBTIQ people and other minorities who risk being discriminated. Your washing line is a gesture of a friendly, open and accepting society. With the washing line are you creating a society where it’s easier for everyone to dare living openly as who you/they are. By taking and sharing pictures of washing lines in rainbow colors, you are helping to create an archive of compassion and love.

Tvättlina/Washing line is a community art project by Heidi Lunabba (Fi) and Ilar Gunilla Persson (Swe), everyone is welcome to participate; individuals, institutions, companies, etc. The project is going on everywhere and all the time you can hang a washing line as a colorful bunting whenever you feel like it, to mark a political event, to protest against discrimination, to mark events such as a Pride Festival, a celebration, a cultural event or to show where you stand while you dry your colour laundry.

WHAT TO DO:
Hang a washing line in rainbow colors. The textiles do not have to be one color, the washing line can be anywhere where it is visible, and your participation is more important than a perfect color scale. A Washing line can also be an array of books in rainbow colors, colored paper, cups or different colored objects. Document and share with a #tvattlina tag on Instagram or Twitter, or send images to the washing line on Facebook or rainbowtvattlina@gmail.com.

Debates on people’s LGBTQI rights come now and then in different situations, opponents share noisily narrow minded and hurtful opinions. The vast majority are often on the side of the minority, but remain invisible. “With the washing line, we wanted to create an accessible, casual and creative tool for everyone to show their support.” The project started in 2014 at Jeppis Pride festival in Jakobstad, the artists explains whom since the launch of the project has toured with the project in the Scandinavian countries.

The Washing line concept is free for all to use and the project has a life of its own.

“Selecting textiles for the washing line can be seen as a symbolic act referring to the term ‘to come out of the closet’, but in this case it is simply about showing compassion. By “coming out” as a friendly neighbor, you are helping to create a community where it is easier for everyone to live as the person you are”.

Contact: Heidi Lunabba, heidi@lunabba.com, +358 50 349 30 29 Ilar Gunilla Persson, ilargunilla@gmail.com
#tvattlina – www.tvattlina.com – @rainbowtvattlina – www.facebook.com/tvattlina