Psychological Clothing 2000-2004

I believe that one of the functions of art is to strip us bare, to remind us of the fragility that we share with every other human being across contents and centuries. Often, I will meet someone, and the visible weight of his or her life becomes almost unbearable to me, it rips me open. The objects that I make are an attempt to articulate this feeling.

For many years, I explored expressions of vulnerability in drawing and painting. Eventually, creating a two dimensional image felt inadequate, too distanced: wanted to go deeper, get INSIDE, so I began to create psychological states one could “wear”....I was drawn to the idea of working with fabric, an appropriately fragile and mutable medium. As we normally use garments to construct an identity, a conscious choice of our own “packaging” presented to the world, I became interested in the notion of creating clothes that reveal psychological states, rather than camouflaging them. This ongoing series of (mostly) wearable Psychological Clothing turns our insides out.

Vagina Dentata Purse

2002, Functional purse, all hand-sewn and made of hand dyed velvet, teeth shaped from shells, wire, batting, purse frame with "snap" mechanism, 10 x 14 x 7"

Vagina Dentata Purse, closed

Defense Mechanism Coat

2001, velvet, hand quilted and embroidered with all the major veins & arteries of the body, batting, and wool coat with 150 lbs. roofing nails pushed through the surface. Belger Family Foundation collection, Kansas City.

Defense Mechanism Coat (detail)

Defense Mechanism Coat (embroidery detail)

Paranoia Purse

2004, military surplus metal ammo can, googly eyes, black silk velvet interior lining, 7 x 11 x 3.75" (working photos)

Paranoia Purse (open)

Kate in Fertilization Dress

2000, double layer of chiffon, fake pearls, hand embroidery, size 6, 50 x 20 x 8”.

Fertilization Dress (detail)

Fertilization Purse

2001, Functional purse, all hand sewn. Blue velvet, red satin, embroidery thread, fake pearls and purse frame with "snap" mechanism, 5 x 9 x 5"

Fertilization Purse (detail)

Kate in Summer Night Sky Dress

2001, hand dyed silk velvet, fake pearls sewn in June Northern Hemisphere constellations, size 6.

Bleed.

2001, dyed & hardened vintage leather gloves, 13 x 4 x 3.5”

Individuation Dress

2002, cotton dress, machine embroidery, distressing, dye, size 8. Machine embroidered text on cotton voile. Text repeated like a mantra across dress reads "I am not them, I am not them..." Text dissipates and deconstructs towards the bottom: "I am not...", "I am...", "I...". Sash is embroidered with the words "LOVE • GUILT • LOVE • GUILT..." and wraps around the body several times before trailing onto the floor.

Individuation Dress (detail)

Individuation Dress (bottom detail)

Individuation Dress (sash detail)

Physical Memory / Last Goodbye Dress

2002, silk dress, discharged at male/female contact points of final embrace, overdyed, size 10

Physical Memory / Last Goodbye Dress, back

Summer Night Breeze Dress

2001, hand painted & dyed silk organza, hand cut / machine embroidered organza leaves, machine embroidery, fan, size 8. This dress is displayed suspended from monofilament, with a fan mounted high on the wall to make the leaves flutter.