In Good Conscience

2018

Cotton/Linen/Synthetic Fabric Scraps, Chicken Wire

and Monofilament

An installation that explores ideas of unity and community through form and text. When news hit that the Fibers Concentration in the Department of Studio Art was being discontinued, it was like a fast train hitting a brick wall. There was no warning given before the decision had been made and no opportunity to fight back. The right to voice concerns and share valid arguments of viability was nonexistent. It was final without proper considerations. In response, In Good Conscience invites the viewer to openly interact and read the opinions and concerns provided locally and nationally by supporters of the Fibers Concentration. The installation is a platform for the University of North Texas, Denton and the Greater Dallas Fort Worth communities to be seen AND heard.

I transferred text onto scraps of synthetic fabrics by screen printing and heat setting words using thickened Transperse dyes. I also transferred text onto scraps of natural fabrics by screen printing words with mordant pastes and then naturally dyeing the scraps in immersion bathes of different plant matter, such as: marigold, yellow yarrow, black eyed susan, common sunflower, madder root and avocado pits/skins. The naturally dyed and heat transferred fabric was then woven into cloth as inlay or cut into strips to be woven as the weft.

The text is made up of responses that came from a questionnaire created for the installation. Individuals physically filled out the form by hand or filled out an online submission, the responses were scanned, the handwriting and online submissions turned into vectors and burned into screens with photo emulsion. Some of the heat transferred textiles and naturally dyed, handwoven cloth were then dipped in watered down stiffeners, such as Fa-Brick, Paverpol or wheat paste, to add dimension. All finished pieces were then hung at different face-level heights from the ceiling with clear monofilament with just enough space to invite the viewer in. As the viewer walks through the installation, they are encouraged to read the supportive and sometimes intense responses that the administration refuses to acknowledge.

Additionally, the structures that form at the end of the installation are made from chicken wire, which are covered in stiffened muslin scraps and then partially covered in stiffened responses. White fabric was chosen for the heat transfer textiles as a representation of paper. The text includes a full spectrum of hues that represent the wide variety of people who have come forward to show their support and share their point of view. The stiffened responses and scrap fabric pieces represent the letters and emails from concerned citizens that were tossed aside by administrators, but, as these responses start coming together, they form structural sculptures representing the supporters standing up and making their presence and voices heard.