Structure of Exclusion

News of the migrant situation at our border with Mexico was getting worse every day, and our president only talked about making his fence bigger. I stenciled shadowy images of exhausted people onto hand dyed fabric, and put them behind an impenetrable fence.

2021. Approx 43"w x 35"h.
Materials: commercial cotton prints, metallic and novelty synthetic fabrics, novelty trims, Sulky variegated thread, tulle

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California Cuisine

This piece was created while I was teaching at a 5-day retreat on the Eel River in northern Mendocino County. The rising sun on a summer morning backlit the water-sculpted rocks, and my inspiration couldn't wait until I got home.

2019. Approx 50"w x 39"h.
Materials: commercial cotton prints, metallic and novelty synthetic fabrics, novelty trims, Sulky variegated thread, tulle

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DENIED

By 2018 I was feeling demoralized by the direction our country's administration was taking in regard to human rights. I chose these five groups of people who were being especially victimized and placed them over a background with quilted words about their plight. Over each image I placed a barrier that symbolized their unfair struggle.

2018. Approx 59"w x 100"h.
Materials: commercial cotton prints, metallic and novelty synthetic fabrics, novelty trims, Sulky variegated thread, tulle

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Liberty's Forgotten Words

In 2017 our country's administration seemed to have forgotten the iconic words on our Statue of Liberty. I wrote them on the shredded remains of a flag and gave our woman real fire in her torch.

2017. Approx 19"w x 55"h.
Materials: commercial cotton prints, metallic and novelty synthetic fabrics, novelty trims, Sulky variegated thread, tulle

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Together We Stand

My daughter, granddaughter and I all attended the first Women's March in 2017, proudly wearing our pink pussy hats and carrying signs. This is when I decided I have to use my art as a means of communication to try to make some changes in this world of ours. I am happy to say that this piece was noticed by the Sierra Club, an that they purchased it to hang in their national headquarters in Washington DC.

2017. Approx 46"w x 56"h.
Materials: commercial cotton prints, metallic and novelty synthetic fabrics, novelty trims, Sulky variegated thread, tulle

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Out with the Trash

This is one of my first pieces that deals with social justice. I used thrown-away denim clothing and freehand machine quilting to create the figures.

2016. Approx 42" x 48"h.
Materials: commercial cotton prints, metallic and novelty synthetic fabrics, novelty trims, Sulky variegated thread, tulle

Photo by the artist