Secondary Relic
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I was a weaver before I was a painter. I have loved textiles of all kinds for as long as I can remember.
These pieces are made from materials that I have collected for years. In most cases, they are remnants of other things- selvedges from old rugs, antique linen sheets, deconstructed garments, lace handkerchiefs, old tulle. In some cases, I dyed the fabric. In other cases, I used the materials as they were- respecting the age, the touch, the weave, the stains, the existing stitches. In all cases, these pieces are hand stitched, part of the ethic of the making, partly because I have loved the process. I began to work with fabric in early 2023. The process has been similar to the way I make a painting– it is improvisational, it is intuitive, it is formal. I gather, assemble, add, subtract, fold, stitch, and embroider as I construct each piece. I have intentionally kept the stitching language to a minimum. What unfolds each time is a bit of a mystery but I find a story fairly quickly. This is what I was thinking about when I began to work: Making sense, making a garment, being a daughter, raising a child, telling a story, collaborating with a mender. And the world turns. After almost a year, I have begun to dig deeper. And now I’m: Seeking solace, creating a mantle, building a scroll, making a shrine, sewing a shroud. I have followed the lead of what was in my hands. I hope, in my way, I have honored the materials. A secondary relic is a memento or an artifact that in one way or another is imbued with the power of something sacred. It is often referred to as a blessing and frequently credited with protective powers.
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