I researched the lives of women in my family, tracing the history of eight generations following my grandmother’s documentation and developing my own research approach. The lives of these women have been unexplored by those who tell the story of this family, as they focus on the male line and their contributions. Presenting only the women’s history counters how historians and museums are representing this family, and that of women through history.
Each garment is hand stitched as a way to slowly build a relationship with each woman’s life, allowing for my mind to wonder about their individual story. The fabric that touches their skin is made from my own bedsheets and pillowcases, material that I have intimately touched; and a piece of my own hair is stitched into each garment so that I may give part of my body to each one of them. The garments are presented as relics of these women, considering what is left of their history and how to represent those we have lost but whose story is still valuable.
