Textiles
My work questions how extreme United States nationalism divides humanity on a global level, while also aiming to open a discussion around who holds the power to either perpetuate or protest nationalistic ideals. I am interested in promoting a discussion around the disconnect between borders and the exaggeration of patriotism within the American identity. With a focus on collage, textiles, and sculptural works I hope to reference the strength in the less traditional art forms that have been developed throughput history as a voice for both creative expression and political action.
LOST BEHIND THE SCREEN, 2020.
Plaster, Cardboard, Fabric, String, Magazines 14" x 12" x 12"
My piece, Lost Behind the Screen represents a laptop that refers to the media and the way that it can form and shape our interests, political opinions, and knowledge of issues both nationally and globally. The initial layer of collage is filled with global news stories, and then a layer of U.S. centered news, a layer of magazines and “superficial” stories, and finally topped with layers of black fabric. This piece is meant to show the hierarchy of news that we are exposed to, and the lack of attention brought to certain issues and current events. The collage and use of layering are influenced by Mark Bradford and Carmen Winant, and the inclusion of textile and thread is inspired by my research and interest in the historical female practice of needlework.
THE GREAT UNITED STATES, 2020.
Cardboard, Paper, String 12" x 10"
Continuing with the element of collage, the puzzle that I have constructed, The Great United States, is meant to show the youthful perspective of nationalism that is established with the influence of perspectives shared in educational systems. The globe in the collage is made from U.S. history textbook pages, while the background of the puzzle includes pages from world history textbooks. The U.S. piece is disproportionally large and meant to question the balance of U.S. history versus world history in educational curriculums.
While acknowledging that the art of textile-based works is rooted in the oppression of women in a patriarchal society, there is a power in the craft, creativity, history, and expressiveness of textile-based works. With the restrictions placed on women in society through confining gender roles, women have created unique ways of sharing their perspectives and talent through typically female-constructed creations—therefore taking power in the unspoken word shared through craft and art.
STAND, 2020.
Digital Illustration and Collage
DEAR AMERICA, 2020.
Fabric, Thread, Acrylic Paint 46" x 72"
With lack of the experience or skill to properly sew and work with fabrics, I have taken freedom in experimentation with expression through stitch strength, direction, and neatness. In my pieces I have chosen to use harsher stitches to reflect the anger, sadness, and confusion I feel towards the issues I am researching— while also exploring the female identity through more refined, clean stitches. The quilt I have created is made of recycled patriotic clothing and fabric from a thrift store, focused on the colors red white and blue. I hope to bring into question associations of patriotic colors, symbols, and imagery with nationalistic views. The quilt holds traditional patchwork elements and states “To Question is to Care, and to Care is to Love.” One of the most uniting factors of the world is the power within people to rise up and protest—and quilting is one accessible and historically rich way of sharing a message or story.
