mom was an english major
I come to playing with words, naturally
U of M (Ann Arbor) She liked to play with the shapes of letters and to deconstruct the meaning held by words. Her work with letters and words often appeared colorful, playful, whimsical and sometimes weird illustrations. She was a poet, playing with form or following form while referencing the work of other writers, obscure myths and biblical context that I often needed her to explain.
As a family, we would go into the city for museums, plays, folk music, the circus. As a teenager I would take the train on my own to wander past the Chagall plaza, the Picasso statue and various fountains on my way to The Art Institute. I remember, at some point visiting MCA and seeing a big Ruscha piece ‘I DON’T WANT NO RETROSPECTIVE’ thinking hmmm text is art and yeah, no retrospective, just live the minutes and days being present while looking ahead.
I continue to pay attention to text based artists: Jenny Holzer, Barbara Kruger, Adrian Piper, Christine Sun Kim, Guerrilla Girls, Zoe Leonard and Yoko Ono. Each of these artists use text to bring ideas to the surface. For me as a counterpoint to much of my printed imagery that holds intentions, process and deep meaning, that often I am the only one aware of. Using text consistently shows up in my fiber work and mixed media collages as a good way for me to cut to the chase. The slow work of stitching text gives my heart and mind time to catch up with the impact and content of what I see in the media.
text based work in progress
I’ve been learning how to use a machine to do my stitching. Instead of cross stitching my text by hand I am using an embroidery machine. I am able to work at faster speed and the output is bolder and easier to read at a distance.
A stained, vintage linen bed skirt captures the forbidden language, the list of words that if found in proposals, on websites or in grants will cause them to be denied and deleted. As I’m thinking about this piece I sometimes envision a performance, wearing or laying out the ‘bed’ on a mossy surface in the woods or in the middle of a busy street.
My Mother would find this to be entirely absurd. I recognize it as an enormous, aching step backwards, away from an elemental, base line of understanding of the complex, poetic job of being human, a human that continues to be curious about relationships and kindness. In my shock, I gather fiber, stitch and leave a mark as best I know how. What exactly it will become I am not entirely sure.
how are you playing with words?
What are you tearing up or erasing?
What do you write when you are not transmitting over the internet?
How are you making the bed you are sleeping in?
where are the words catching your eyes?
waging nonviolence
democracy now
mother jones
sunrise movement
poor peoples campaign
the brooklyn rail
Pete Buttigieg, Jessica Craven, Roxanne Gay, Rebecca Solnit, Prentis Hemphill and an ocean of others
No access”