Spike Island
2016
Uniforms, Calico, Fabric Printed with Security Envelope Patterns from Banks and Government-issued correspondence, bedding and buttons
83 x 65 inches, King Size
Spike Island in Cobh, Ireland, was built by the British as a fort and was later made into a prison. It became the largest convict depot in the world. Early IRA members were incarcerated here. This quilt is based on the repetition of the prison’s plan, which closely resembles a traditional star quilt block. Roughly the size of a king bed sheet, this quilt is pieced from fabrics printed with security envelope patterns, fragments of uniforms and dress shirts, calico, bedding and buttons. I used calico to reference both an exterior space, and ideas about trade and exchange. The British banned calico imports from India, and later became the largest textile producers in the world.
Values Study, Maximum Security, Installation view with "Florence ADX a and b", and Security Envelope Wallpaper
2016
Bedding, uniforms, fabrics printed with security patterns from bank and government-issued correspondence.
Each quilt measures 45 x 60 inches, approximately.
Florence ADX is a super maximum security prison complex in Florence, Colorado. The work consists of three crib-sized quilts that incorporate design elements from traditional “hugs and kisses” and fan quilts. I was surprised to find the shapes of the aerial views of these prisons resemble houses. Arranged from left to right, the background fabrics of the three quilts create a grey-scale from lighter to darker shades.
Bankrolling Climate Change Quilt over Bank Security Pattern Wallpaper
2013
Fabric Printed with Bank Security Patterns, Shirting, Bedding, embroidery
63 x 80 inches
Based on a Friendship Quilt, each quilt block is embroidered with the banks that contribute most to climate change, due to their investment in coal.
Maximum Security, Installation view with "Florence ADX, a, b and c" and Security Envelope Wallpaper
2016
Florence ADX is a super maximum security prison complex in Florence, Colorado. The work consists of three crib-sized quilts that incorporate design elements from traditional “hugs and kisses” and fan quilts. I was surprised that the shapes of the aerial views of these prisons resemble houses. Arranged from left to right, the background fabrics of the three quilts create a grey-scale from lighter to darker shades.