Participating in the You Are So Very Beautiful Craftivism Project
Katherine stitched these affirmations for Betsy Greer's You Are So Very Beautiful craftivism project. To date, she has stitched piecesfor Betsy's #YASVB art drop in Baltimore and a group displayed at the CounterCraft exhibition at the Fuller Craft Musuem. In Fall 2016, Katherine and Betsy collaborated on a #YASVB art drop on NC State University's campus with the students in her ADN273 Fibers Materials and Processes students.
For more information about the You Are So Very Beautiful project, please see Betsy Greer's description here.
Reliquary of Hypocrisy: It Was Never About the Bathrooms
Combining inspiration from ecclesiastical embroidery and reliquaries and the Elizabeth Parker sampler housed at the V&A in London, Katherine Diuguid created this piece in response to the passing of the HB2 "Bathroom Bill" in her home state of North Carolina. It was part of a reactionary exhibition at the Pink Building Gallery in Raleigh, NC in May 2016 where 22 artists from North Carolina responded to the bill and surrounding political conversations with art work that was auctioned off to support Equality NC.
Materials: gold-leafed wooden box, goldwork embroidered lid, cotton osnaburg lining with red silk embroidery, bleached chicken bones.
Text on the card:
Women throughout history have used their needles to voice their opinions and stand up for themselves. I have never really dealt with overt political themes in my work, not on purpose necessarily, but mainly because the direction of my work was different or because I wanted the message concealed. I now find myself needing to use my needle to make a stand. To say to a group of people being marginalized that they matter that they are loved just as they are.
I am proud to be from the beautiful state of NC. I long for its fresh mountain air and silence and treasure the sunset memories of childhood trips to the Outer Banks. First in flight. First in freedom. We pride ourselves with being at the forefront of progress. Yet I find myself in a moment that is beyond discouraging as many strive and have been successful in stripping rights from certain groups of citizens and utilizing a gospel of fear to push their agenda.
So with my needle. With my art I say to those marginalized groups- you matter. You are loved. Be proud of who you are. Yes you may pee next to me but more importantly- you can vote next to me. You can pray next to me. You can live safely next to me. You can enjoy the beauty of the mountains, Piedmont and beach next to me. You can be you, just as you are, next to me. I stand beside you to say you matter just as much as me.
Much of the conversation surrounding HB2 has focused on biological sex organs and their use in defining someone's identity. Fear and labels have been the defense of choice used to defend the bill. How does this type of categorizing help us to love our neighbors? What does this kind of conversation really reveal?