Continental Drift, 2009

clothing labels and embroidery floss on organza

9' x 19'

These ephemeral land masses represent a snapshot of the post-industrial textile landscape in our closets. Here, one very specific collection of clothing labels donated at SubRosa's installation for the Interventionists exhibition at MASS MOCA in Western Massachusetts (2004), is reconfigured in Continental Drift revealing a geography shaped by politics, resources, fashion, and quotas. The size of each country is determined by the exact number of labels collected (and sent to me) during the run of the show at MASS MOCA. The map’s magnetic pole, latitudes, and longitudes emanate from the northeastern United States where they were collected.

In the Folds

In the Folds, 2008

hand embroidery, applique, and beading on wool felt, cotton

72” x 29”

In the Folds tells the story Pa Shaw Pah told me about her escape from persecution in Burma, the refugee camp in Thailand and the hardships of starting a new life in Pittsburgh. Traditional Karen protective tattoo patterns of elaborate, oval, symmetrical Buddhist designs worn by her ethnic group merge here with the cartoon characters her toddler son absorbs on TV in Pittsburgh and the housekeeping cart that she wields each day in a local hotel. Jewish Children and Family Services have assisted in her settlement and commissioned the piece. The Hebrew letters spell out the guiding torah passage for their work: “Justice, Justice, you shall pursue.”(Deuteronomy16:20)

Psyche's Secret at Mattress Factory

Psyche’s Secret

rice, bulgur, couscous, poppy seed

9’ x 11’

 

Oozing in from the window, loopy, graffitiesque letters spell out the words, “someone is helping you.” Inspired by the story of Cupid and Psyche, Psyche’s Secret, the installation references tasks that Venus designed to foil Psyche. Just when she was about to despair the impossibility of separating a mountain of grains, an army of ants offered to come to her aid. I find Venus’ words of retort strangely comforting. 

Fruit for All Seasons, 2008

orange rinds, styrofoam peanuts, stitched with embroidery thread

 

Check out this review: Wendy Osher at Fe Gallery

  http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A57544