Sister Sashes (work in progress)

These works represent me, my two childhood best friends, my chosen sisters—and the intimate moments of our lifelong friendships. Our story is stitched into the fabric of Akron, Ohio, where we grew up. 

In these works, I examine how and what quilts hold. Just as a quilt wraps and comforts a body, these works encase window sashes in cotton quilt batting. These quilts hold more than just fabric—they carry the essence of memories, people, and places framed within the delicate structure of historic window sashes. The quilted sash—holding the glass within—becomes a metaphor for comfort and protection. The quilts symbolize how we support and protect one another. The performance aspect of this work delves into nostalgia, exploring both the comforting and uncomfortable facets of memory as they relate to specific spaces. The act of draping the entire quilt over myself symbolizes a childlike retreat, akin to pulling covers over one’s head. This gesture also speaks to the labor involved in constructing a quilt of this scale, serving as a metaphor for the labor of retreating into and accessing memory. This is a representation of time, lived experiences, and memory. This way of activating the work was foundational in its inception.