Artist's' Statement
This current body of work emerged from my possession of two collections of heirloom textiles: one, a group of doilies crocheted by my paternal grandmother; the other of handkerchiefs collected by my maternal grandmother over the course of her lifetime. I have created full-scale portraits of these women from their materials, additionally utilizing family photographs and memories as well as hearsay and archival research into historical events. Through these I seek to explore some enduring questions: what is the worth and residue of an individual's life in the world? What constitutes the fine line between shadow and substance? What is the nature of the narrative thread, and once woven, what of the holes in the stories? If the stories leave a presence behind in the world, what if they are not entirely true? Is a distorted truth as valid and influential as absolute truth; is there such a thing as absolute truth?
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Through investigating the mysteries within my own family, I acknowledge our common concerns with identity and role in the life cycle; with origin, impact, purpose and legacy.

Please click here for a link to biographies of the subjects in this work.