I begin each work by selecting a vintage (pre-1968) decorative textile embellished with embroidery, crochet, or tatting. Examples include cotton or linen tea towels, doilies, table runners, pillowcases and dinner napkins. Many are sourced at estate sales, church rummage sales or are gifted by friends and neighbors.
Next, I select a quote from a women writer or activist from history (prior to 1968 Civil Rights Act) who speaks of the strength needed to win battles; why she fights for the future generations of women; or her perseverance in unjust conditions. I custom design the text layout for each textile and trace it on the fabric using a heat-erasable pen and a light box. The quote is then hand embroider in cursive font using a near-match color thread—white-on-white or ivory-on ivory. This echo text emerges from the textile with varying degrees of readability. When the piece is exhibited, the full quote is presented on the title card. Next, the word or phrase is stitched over the echo text in satin stitch or chain stitch in custom mixed, multi-toned red floss. The final step involves blocking and pressing the piece to restore the original shape.
Artist-in-resident Meg Rowe invites fiber artists, craftivists and embroiders to participate in community stitching sessions to help create a material record of 350 words and phrases—from accessible to women and underrepresented deemed by the federal administration to be “unacceptable”. Participants will embroider the words on prepared vintage textiles using simple stitch structures in red thread on a white background.
The project uses the “feminine arts” to protect this moment in history from erasure, while creating a material record of words and concepts belonging to all of us—most especially the marginalized people they describe—as an act of noncompliance, resistance and pure joy.
Some experience with embroidery or hand sewing is needed. An orientation and demonstration will open each session. The full list of words can be found on pen.org.
To join a session, please RSVP to: The_Record@icloud.com
Include your preferred date(s) and time, and your level of experience (basic, intermediate or advanced).
Questions about the stitch sessions, or to donate materials: The_Record@icloud.com
Location: Art Annex and Studio*
Location: Art Annex
*depending on the number of participants.
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