what Grandma's trying to hide, 2017
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​​a reflection on traditional gender roles and expectations of women-folk (female identifying/socialized humans) in regards to producing and maintaining a certain level of appearances in their homes, in their lives, and with their bodies. I’ve turned to stereotypically-feminine handicraft to explore these ideas with a medium traditionally used in upholding these expectations.
 
Like my grandmother before me, I am covering up imperfections. Rather than attempting to disguise though, I draw attention to what lies below.
 
I am interested in what we hide, in what we gloss over, and what we place just out of sight.
 
Perhaps if we don’t see it then it doesn’t exist. It’s what we do not only with stains and holes in our linens, but the excessive waste we generate, the homeless, the mentally ill, the disabled, the migrant workers, the incarcerated, the queer, the poverty stricken.
 
The stains may be covered but they continue to exist just beyond the threads, waiting.