Artist Statement
2021 began with the death of my 27-year old daughter, Emily. Emily died on January 1st, 2021 as a result of complications from her 2019 heart transplant. I can already see a transformation in my textile artwork directly related to grief, mourning + navigating new trajectory. Emily was a brilliant writer + she will continue to show up in my artwork, as will my son, Evan + my husband, Gary.
Family is the reason for my maker career. I needed work that would afford me the time to drop everything to be in hospital with Emily, or on a school field trip with Evan
+ be portable + meaningful. Family will always be woven into my artwork.
Emily’s fearless writing influences my artwork with words embroidered on upcycled clothing + reclaimed books for button making.
This is Craftivism.
Craft + Activism = Craftivism.
There will always be a “before Emily died” and “after Emily died” divide in my artwork. I see that clearly.
Before Emily died my artwork was influenced by mathematics, nature + history. Knitting a Fibonacci Sequence, crocheting a hyperbolic plane, or designing a fractal weave filled my creative time + energy.
Nature became a huge influence after we bought an off-the-grid cabin in the woods near Algonquin Park in 2010.
History + story in general influences us all whether we are aware of that or not. When I teach art + art business I bring that awareness to the forefront.
“After Emily died” my artwork elevated the importance of craftivism in my work.
As a craftivist, I use quiet, visual protest in creating art pieces with words that teach + invoke thought. Using reclaimed materials + traditional craft applications, I repair clothing with visible mending + thought provoking quotes, words + references. Slow fashion, or the fast fashion rebellion is present in all my wearable, or re-wearable pieces. Framed craftivism art using vintage + upcycled frames + embroidery hoops will be my 2021 + beyond focus. There is beauty in awareness.
Connection.
Connecting the before + after divide is important to me.
As I move forward as an artist, educator, maker + craftivist, I will use “connection” + all its definitions.
I will connect the past to present, thought to action, strength to softness + idea to voice.
Connection will come in many forms including hashtags #
The pandemic moved us all into Zoom + Zoom-esque spaces + classrooms.
When teaching mature art students, I noticed the confusion over using hashtags #
Hashtags # are connections.
I will use hashtags # that connect us + I will teach art students to connect using hashtags #
We are artists because that’s how we communicate with the world.
And communication is more important than ever.
Communication connects us.
Family is the reason for my maker career. I needed work that would afford me the time to drop everything to be in hospital with Emily, or on a school field trip with Evan
+ be portable + meaningful. Family will always be woven into my artwork.
Emily’s fearless writing influences my artwork with words embroidered on upcycled clothing + reclaimed books for button making.
This is Craftivism.
Craft + Activism = Craftivism.
There will always be a “before Emily died” and “after Emily died” divide in my artwork. I see that clearly.
Before Emily died my artwork was influenced by mathematics, nature + history. Knitting a Fibonacci Sequence, crocheting a hyperbolic plane, or designing a fractal weave filled my creative time + energy.
Nature became a huge influence after we bought an off-the-grid cabin in the woods near Algonquin Park in 2010.
History + story in general influences us all whether we are aware of that or not. When I teach art + art business I bring that awareness to the forefront.
“After Emily died” my artwork elevated the importance of craftivism in my work.
As a craftivist, I use quiet, visual protest in creating art pieces with words that teach + invoke thought. Using reclaimed materials + traditional craft applications, I repair clothing with visible mending + thought provoking quotes, words + references. Slow fashion, or the fast fashion rebellion is present in all my wearable, or re-wearable pieces. Framed craftivism art using vintage + upcycled frames + embroidery hoops will be my 2021 + beyond focus. There is beauty in awareness.
Connection.
Connecting the before + after divide is important to me.
As I move forward as an artist, educator, maker + craftivist, I will use “connection” + all its definitions.
I will connect the past to present, thought to action, strength to softness + idea to voice.
Connection will come in many forms including hashtags #
The pandemic moved us all into Zoom + Zoom-esque spaces + classrooms.
When teaching mature art students, I noticed the confusion over using hashtags #
Hashtags # are connections.
I will use hashtags # that connect us + I will teach art students to connect using hashtags #
We are artists because that’s how we communicate with the world.
And communication is more important than ever.
Communication connects us.