“My work examines contradicting female roles and the simultaneous attraction and repulsion to their objectification. The exploration of these observed female roles from popular culture, domestic trends and art history are visualized through the combination of digital imaging, photography and needlecraft.
Working in fiber came about when I became disillusioned with the limitations of traditional photography. I have always been interested in sewing and how it relates to feminine identity, and so I began exploring embroidery as an output for my photographic images. Thus, my work evolved from pixels to stitches, yet both media continue to inform the other.
As a child, I began making quilts and pillows using traditional techniques, and then in graduate school was turned on to using a computerized sewing machine as a drawing utensil; it has a repetitive, industrial quality that reflects the mass-produced element of pop art that has always fascinated me. The computerized sewing machine also exemplified the digital elements that are important in my work. Since I began working in fiber, I have tried to refine the balance between a digital, machine- made aesthetic and handcrafted details. This visual marriage speaks to the feminine dualism between the woman as homemaker and the woman as object of sexual desire.
The tension between mother vs. mistress has been around for decades. But as the stereotypical roles of the sexes become more ambiguous, this conflict becomes more outstanding. Women are not always given the opportunity to explore both their domestic side as well as their sexuality – but rather forced to choose between them. This impractical choice creates the environment for this tension to emerge.”