03/15/2017
ARTIST STATEMENT:
Above all, I am extremely thankful for this past election. Yes, the outcome was and still very much is highly unpleasant, but it woke me up, and I am forever grateful to that. Because of the political and social events continuing to occur in response to Donald J. Trump’s presidency, I have never felt so empowered to be a woman.
With this piece, I have used sanitary napkins, or pads, to create a quilt. Within numerous pads, I have stitched in various phrases taken from my personal life and signs that were created for the Women’s Marches back in January in protest to the government. Using stitching and quilting techniques, I confront the traditional ideas of what women are supposed to be able to do in society. With the use of sanitary napkins, I push the idea that menstruation is not a weakness. In all reality, it bonds each woman together. In addition, the use of the blank pads that break up the space allude to the future generations of strong women who will continually add to the empowerment. The micro-fiber plush fabric stitched along the sides give it a feel of comfort, allowing the viewer to feel a sense of nostalgia as it is comparable to a baby blanket, making one feel safe and warm. Because of this, I feel as though it is important that a woman feels comfortable in her own skin, and it is comforting to know that each woman is not alone, regardless of any situation that we go through, but especially during menstruation. The imperfections of the stitching throughout the piece are due to the imperfections of the journey it takes to get there, and the journey that is to come, and the overall wear and tear that comes with being a woman.
