Fiber
Heirloom (2022), linocut printed on my grandfather’s t-shirts, ~ 4 x 3 ft. | This piece combines my love for printmaking and fiber art techniques. I first carved a 4x6 inch linoleum block with symbols inspired by Appalachian barn quilts, and then printed the block onto patches cut from t-shirts that belonged to my grandfather who passed away in 2018. Much of my work is inspired by my upbringing, which my grandparents played an important role in. This quilt includes references to my grandparents on both sides of my family, unifying them into one piece that I hope to pass down to my own children and grandchildren someday. Each color represents a different hope that I have for both my present and future family; blue represents peace, pink represents love, yellow represents health, purple represents creativity, and black represents protection.
Pop Music (2021); gumballs, red and clear vinyl fabric, cotton fabric, ribbon, repurposed purse, printable vinyl sticker| This project was completed for KMAC Couture 2021, a live wearable art runway show presented by the KMAC Museum in Louisville, KY. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 runway show was transformed into a feature film that premiered at a live screening event in October 2021. The film is entitled Beauty and the Beat, taking its name from the KMAC Couture 2021 curatorial theme. Artists were asked to create pieces inspired by music in some way, and filmmakers re-contextualized these pieces within their own interpretation of the theme. I was selected for my original work entitled Pop Music, a piece made largely out of real gum balls that I hand-sewed into a wearable garment.