- About
- When I think about my own relationships, whether they are familial, friendly, or intimate, textiles come to mind. Fabric is an essential part of our lives, and we use it in many ways, from the clothes we wear to the sheets we sleep on to the towels we use to wipe our mouths. Fabric provides us with constant comfort, protection, and joy, and connects us to those we love through histories of crafting, fashion, and the gifting and collecting of homeware textiles and clothes.
I think that there is much to say about this connection between painting and textile creation. The two mediums are seen as separate, yet have clearly influenced and run parallel to each other, converging as our contemporary definition of painting shifts to make way for further exploration of mediums and forms.
The examples submitted (with the exception of My Grandmother’s Placemat) are from a series of similar works. While making these I became very interested in the life cycle of common fabrics that we use in our everyday, such as clothes and housewares. These canvases are made from second-hand pillow cases, tablecloths and napkins. Where did they live, before they lived here? Who's mouths did they touch? Who's face, who's hands? My Grandmother’s Placemat was made a few years before. The painting is a copy of a quilted placemat made and used by my late grandmother, and was a catalyst for these other works, providing both the quilted grid form and the concept of a fabric object as a vessel for memory.
My Grandmother's PlacematAcrylic, oil, kozo paper and paper napkins on canvas15 x 30"
Blanket in my garden (part 1)Dyed second hand fabrics sewn and made into a canvas, with embroidery thread18 x 24"
Run dog!Dyed second hand fabrics sewn and made into a canvas, with embroidery thread18 x 24"
Blanket in my garden (part 2), Dyed second hand fabrics sewn and made into a canvas, with embroidery thread18 x 24"