"Contagious Silence" ©Linda Friedman Schmidt 2009 is a powerful, narrative, multiple portrait by an artist raising her voice to advocate for women's rights, fighting to end the silencing of women without voices. Using solely discarded clothing as her paint, Linda makes fashion talk. She has found her own voice and power through the communicative power of textiles, yet knows that cloth and clothing can also silence and disempower women when they must dress in a burqa, niqab, or the latest trend.