Collaboration forms the basis for my work. Many hands, both human and nonhuman, touch each object: from the growth of raw materials, to their preparation and realization. Individual makers, both past and present, form an enduring chain of collaboration. Everything I make involves these interactions.
I am a steward, taking part in this chain of makers to build and restore functionality to loved objects. I use slow, hand-based processes to collaborate with found materials, from garments to tapestries to family photo albums. Through the practices of mending, hand-poked tattooing, and book making, I interact with others’ lives. Whether I’m darning a sweater for a friend or collecting discarded notes in hand-bound books, my making privileges acts of care. Mending, both literally and figuratively, is a crucial act of care; the decision that something is worth fixing.
I work within a larger context of community, among the connections we form with each other, the daily moments of intimacy that teach us about one another, and interaction through touch. In addition to the mended clothing and tattoos that adorn our bodies, I make books with layers of texture, bringing images and text into our hands. My tended-to objects ultimately go back into use — continuing to live their lives — touched and held.