American Girls
The election year of 2016 was a pivotal time for me, especially as I watched it unfold through the eyes of my daughter. It inspired a wave of feminism both in America and in my own home. I would say that all of my pieces are feminist, I began to channel my feelings into new works that were more overtly political, or centered around social issues.
These pieces challenge societal expectations, gender norms, and the many ways women are losing their rights in today’s America. The use of the word “girl” is purposefull, as it has long been used to infantilize women. This is an ongoing series because there is still much to illuminate and fight for.
I weave my background in textiles into my mixed media pieces with my use of embroidery. In centuries past, while men congregated to the parlor to discuss important matters, women were relegated to drawing rooms to perform “women’s work”. My art is a reclamation. I use the very medium historically used to exclude women to empower women.