Collaborations
My Community
As I was giving my father a sponge bath when he was on his deathbed, my mind wandered. Our rolls were changed now at this time of transition, and I examining his aged torso which was so familiar but also so different from my childhood memories. My eyes fell on the dimple at his waistline (named belly button, navel or umbilicus) and I found myself thinking about the origin of this mark, this vestige. Something we all have but rarely think about - a mark of our history, the mark of our mother. Washing his mother's mark, I remembered stories he had told me about her, how kind she was and how he loved her. I loved hearing these stories of the grammy who died before I was born. I realized that not all have these fond feelings toward the woman who left their mark on them.
I wanted to recognize this mark we all have, to acknowledge this primitive yet ever present reminder of linage and connection - be it positive or negative. I asked for volunteers for this project and 34 old and new friends agreed to have a mold made of their navel. I traveled to their homes to do this for about half of the participants. The other half were students of Hugo I. Juarez, Assistant Professor of Art from University of Akron's Myers School of Art. Hugo welcomed me to his Prinstallation Special Topics class where I gave an artist talk and created the molds on the volunteers. The enthusiasm and welcoming of all participants left their own mark on me.
As I was giving my father a sponge bath when he was on his deathbed, my mind wandered. Our rolls were changed now at this time of transition, and I examining his aged torso which was so familiar but also so different from my childhood memories. My eyes fell on the dimple at his waistline (named belly button, navel or umbilicus) and I found myself thinking about the origin of this mark, this vestige. Something we all have but rarely think about - a mark of our history, the mark of our mother. Washing his mother's mark, I remembered stories he had told me about her, how kind she was and how he loved her. I loved hearing these stories of the grammy who died before I was born. I realized that not all have these fond feelings toward the woman who left their mark on them.
I wanted to recognize this mark we all have, to acknowledge this primitive yet ever present reminder of linage and connection - be it positive or negative. I asked for volunteers for this project and 34 old and new friends agreed to have a mold made of their navel. I traveled to their homes to do this for about half of the participants. The other half were students of Hugo I. Juarez, Assistant Professor of Art from University of Akron's Myers School of Art. Hugo welcomed me to his Prinstallation Special Topics class where I gave an artist talk and created the molds on the volunteers. The enthusiasm and welcoming of all participants left their own mark on me.
vestige - 2023
The World
TogetherVoice was conceived, grown and birthed during the Covid pandemic of 2020. I asked friends and strangers to provide me with an audio recording of them saying the word TOGETHER in their language of origin. Young and old participated, many I had never met except through my Facebook/Instagram request. Audio files were sent, changed into a wave form, and replicated using hand embroidery. As we were told we must stay home, stay away from others, that contact was dangerous and perhaps deadly, I stitched these voices from all over the world including woman incarcerated in a prison in Milan Italy. A choir was born and I was no longer alone. I was honored to have the piece included in Judith: Women Making Visual Poetry, edited by Amanda Earl. www.timglaset.com/produktsida/judith-women-making-visual-poetry and accepted into Materials Hard and Soft International Contemporary Craft Competition and Exhibition 2022, Tanya Aguiniga, juror.
TogetherVoice was conceived, grown and birthed during the Covid pandemic of 2020. I asked friends and strangers to provide me with an audio recording of them saying the word TOGETHER in their language of origin. Young and old participated, many I had never met except through my Facebook/Instagram request. Audio files were sent, changed into a wave form, and replicated using hand embroidery. As we were told we must stay home, stay away from others, that contact was dangerous and perhaps deadly, I stitched these voices from all over the world including woman incarcerated in a prison in Milan Italy. A choir was born and I was no longer alone. I was honored to have the piece included in Judith: Women Making Visual Poetry, edited by Amanda Earl. www.timglaset.com/produktsida/judith-women-making-visual-poetry and accepted into Materials Hard and Soft International Contemporary Craft Competition and Exhibition 2022, Tanya Aguiniga, juror.
Terri Witek
Terri Witek is an amazing, poet, artist and educator. She is also my sister. We have collaborated on multiple projects including embedded words in indigo weavings, rag art, and a a piece on our Aunt Bussy.
Terri Witek is an amazing, poet, artist and educator. She is also my sister. We have collaborated on multiple projects including embedded words in indigo weavings, rag art, and a a piece on our Aunt Bussy.
