Statement
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a maker, officially an ‘artist’ since about 1972. These days, I am fascinated by the possibilities in the scraps, shards, and leftovers of my longstanding studio practice. All of my recent works were created from existing resources in my studio.
The figures in my Specter series tell the story of our human experience and its undercurrents. They call attention to faulty accepted behaviors and unjust ways of living with each other, as they examine societal narratives and probe autobiographical stories. Their vocabulary of recycled materials, embroidered words, varied stitches, shadow/transparency, subtle movement, layered color, raw edges, and hanging thread is both quiet and bold. Hand sewing is a connection to my mother and grandmother who taught me to sew; its deliberate slowness keeps me present, pondering and delving into the story as I work. The resulting stitches reveal the passage of time and the weight of hurt. Ambiguous yet assertive, these works question our labels for who we are, what we do, and what we believe.
My goal is to continue this direction in my work, to create more deeply resonant work about our human experience.