Welcome Editions are limited edition art objects designed by nationally recognized artists and fabricated at least in part by the refugee and immigrant women of the Welcome Project. Often functional, affordable and always collectible, the editions appeal both to collectors of contemporary art and those seeking to support refugees.

Welcome Editions brings much needed employment and empowerment to local refugee and immigrant women and equally, it presents an opportunity to feature work by nationally regarded artists that is exclusive to Cincinnati. Each edition is artist-designed and then fabricated, in most instances, by the immigrant and refugee women. The level of artist involvement with the fabrication varies, but all final pieces are artist approved and signed.

All profits from Welcome Editions feed back into the growth of the Welcome Project. The editions are available for purchase at physical locales including Wave Pool, The Welcome Project, 21c Museum Hotel Cincinnati, and the Contemporary Arts Center Gift Shop. 

Please reach out to wavepoolgallery@gmail.com with questions or to purchase an edition.   

Welcome edition #8: Lorena Molina

In this work, Molina presents viewers with sites where Governors like Greg Abbot (TX) and Ron DeSantis (FL) exploit vulnerable populations of migrants, in order to make their (questionable) political points against immigration. Molina critiques American ideals of safety and freedom—concepts so revered and celebrated in this country—and asks viewers to question for themselves, who actually benefits and who ultimately pays the price for these espoused convictions. 

The women who embroidered this edition work with Casa de Paz, an organization that helps Latine women and children who are survivors of domestic violence. These women gained meaningful and gainful employment through the production of this series that speaks to the issues that they have also faced as immigrants to this country.

Embroidery completed by Marelin Cruz, Elia Martinez, Fabiola Rodriguez, Jetzabel Rojas, and Raquel Sotelo.

Welcome edition #7: Baseera Khan

This very limited edition is of 13 hand woven and embroidered prayer rugs by Baseera Khan.

Baseera Khan is a New York-based performance, sculpture, and installation artist who makes work to discuss materials and their economies, the effects of this relationship to labor, family structures, religion, and spiritual well being.

Similar to Khan’s Act Up (Psychedelic Prayer Rugs) from 2017, which combine visual iconography traditional to Islam with brightly colored symbols of personal significance to the artist, MUSLIMS = AMERICA employs the Islamic prayer rug to contemporary secular concepts—weaving together the artist’s political and queer alliances with a daily spiritual practice. 

A group of five Bhutanese refugee women living in Cincinnati have produced this edition with Khan. Weaving work done by Gita Rai, Durga Limbu, Bishnu Limbu, Laxmi Rai, and Sita Gurung with the assistance and training of Rowe Schnure. Embroidery by Fabiola Rodriguez.

Welcome edition #6: Vanessa German

Vanessa German, in collaboration with local artists, is creating a series of 10 power figure sculptures as Wave Pool’s 6th “Welcome Edition.” These pieces include bead weavings by Bhutanese refugee artists, ceramic works by artists of Visionaries and Voices with disabilities, wood carvings by a Nigerian sculptor, hand dyed prayer beads created by a Zimbabwean artist, as well as glass blowing, cement work, and other pieces created by Cincinnati’s artists. The work was created after German visited Wave Pool to meet the collective of artists involved.

Titled, a holy blue togetherness for planetary awareness of the single universal breath, the work is in German’s words, “for how the color blue is a gift; for the gifts of water, creativity, and togetherness as balm and center in times of disconnect and delusion: a way to be here together. A way of loving.”

The figures are designed to build on the strengths of Wave Pool’s diverse community, pulling together disparate talents and skills to create something emblematic of the power of the collective.  

All works in this series have been sold.

Welcome Edition #1: Chris Johanson and Johanna Jackson

Johanson and Jackson emerged from the late 90s San Francisco-based skater/surf/graffiti scene, known to many as the Mission School, with portfolios of charged, figurative drawings and immersive three-dimensional environments. As a husband and wife team, the two collaborate often on projects. Their Welcome Edition is an edition of 75 woodblock printed denim capes and blankets with a sliding scale of special artist details and price ranges. As a one-off from the edition, a series of 50 prints on paper incorporating the same woodblock print as the capes were also be produced.  

Welcome Edition #2: Caroline Woolard

Caroline Woolard is an artist and organizer whose work explores intersections between art and the solidarity economy. Resulting from a multi-faceted project by New York City-based artist Caroline Woolard entitled Listen, an edition of Welcome Project Cups were produced. This limited edition of functional ceramic cups was designed over the course of a year in dialog with Zoila Martinez, Lourdes Martinez, NarMaya Rai, Bibi Rai, Binta Rai, Sarmila Rai, Purni Rai, Mariam Al-Zoubi, Fabiola Rodriguez, Krishna Ghimire, Angele Mputu.

A collector’s box holding four cups with a signed certificate of authenticity are available. The cups have two sides. When turned over, the underside of the cup becomes a vessel for a flower, a candle, or a water-clock. These ceramics continue Caroline Woolard’s study of functional objects for contemplation and collaboration.

Welcome Edition #3: Pedro Reyes

A continuation in his practice of creating second generation instruments from dismantled guns, this series of flutes made from gun barrels is an edition of 17, specifically in response to the Parkland, Florida school shooting to honor the victims. Born in Mexico City, Reyes is known for transforming existing problems into ideas for a better world. This series of flutes debuted at the March For Our Lives in Cincinnati on March 24th, 2018. A portion of the proceeds go to a Gun Control Organization. These flutes have been featured in the November 2018 Sculpture Magazine, performed at the 2018 ReUse Conference, and were a spotlight story in Cincinnati Magazine.

All works in this edition have been sold.

Welcome Edition #4: Terence Hammonds

Our fourth Welcome Edition is also being released! Large serving platters created by Break Front studios and designed by local artist Terence Hammonds have been co-created with the help of Pedro Moreno, Adriana Prieto Quintero, Monica Andino, and Erika Nj Allen.

This limited edition of 50 platters presents us with a variety of contemporary and historical protestors, reminding us of those who take to the streets to create change. Each edition is signed by Terence Hammonds and stamped by The Welcome Project and Breakfront Pottery.

All works in this edition have been sold.

The Welcome Editions program was initiated with a grant from The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation.