Chameleon is a portrait of a dear friend. I had the opportunity to live with her for a little less than two years. In close proximity, I noticed the way she beautifully balanced the act of fulfilling the roles expected of her by individuals and society with her own needs and desires. Sometimes going out of her way for others’ benefit dovetailed nicely with her personal goals. Other times, she felt overwhelmed by the demands on her time and emotions. There were moments when she was able to run full speed, taking action to fulfill her dreams, and others when she felt consumed with fear about the future. Chameleon is, at its most basic, my metaphoric interpretation of my friend’s life during those several months we lived together. It also represents the way many women in our culture navigate internal and external pressures and the way that process leads us to “change our skin.” We conform, accommodate, harmonize, reconcile, relate, compromise, and yield. We also want to make our mark, stand out, rebel, be heard, be seen, be autonomous, and change the world. Chameleon, I hope, can be a window into the complexity of others’ lives, and a mirror of our own.
Chameleon 2019
72” x 48” x 8”
fabric, leather, and fiberfill on plywood
Low 2016
48” x 66” x 8”
fabric, leather, and fiberfill on plywood
For me, depression is both heavy and seductive. It is fuzzy and diffuse, a warm hole to hide in. There, I am with myself, whispering “take it easy,” and “so lazy” with every breath. I am not a reliable friend.
Hi. I’m fat. “Fat” is just one description of me. It is one word I choose to describe my body. My doctor chooses to describe my body as “morbidly obese,” which, to many in our culture, equals “unhealthy.” Morbid Obesity is my answer to:
those who are “concerned for my health” because I’m fat
folks who are tempted to police what I eat because I’m fat
people who assign ethical terms to food and eating (good food, bad food, guilty eating, etc.)
Morbid Obesity 2016
72” x 48”
fabric and leather on plywood
Quilt-A-Doodle-Doo: Waking Up to Women’s Work 2017
30” x 64”
fabric, batting, embroidery, buttons
For Quilt-A-Doodle-Doo: Waking Up to Women’s Work, I hand-embroidered each quilt square with designs inspired by the elaborate doodles I make during faculty meetings. Doodling helps me stay present and engaged even when meetings are tedious and frustrating. Perhaps embroidery (and other traditional women’s work) similarly helped women in the past, when their lives seemed constricted, boring, or limited.
Fanny 2015
39” x 36” x 36”
fabric and fiberfill on upcycled chair
Victoria 2015
48” x 36” x 36”
fabric and fiberfill on upcycled chair
Joan (5 views) 2016
72” x 36” x 36”
fabric and fiberfill on upcycled wood post
Joan is inspired by the character of the same name on Mad Men.
Body 2015
48” x 24” x 12”
fabric and fiberfill on plywood
Dance 2015
48” x 36” x 8”
fabric and fiberfill on plywood
Orchid 2016
36” x 48” x 8”
fabric, leather, and fiberfill on plywood
Anenome 2016
48” x 36” x 12”
fabric and fiberfill on plywood
Iris 2016
24” x 48” x 12”
fabric, leather, and fiberfill on plywood