The enduring domesticity of women is universal, withstanding even modern feminism and identity politics. There is a long history of the use of phrases, homilies and platitudes in domestic embroidery that was presumably intended to educate and improve the minds of the poor women who had to sew them.

 

These embroideries are my riposte to that domesticity and useless education. They record pearls of wisdom received - often unasked and sometimes unwelcome - from friends, family members, taxi drivers, therapists and even street graffiti. The difference is, I get to choose what to embroider and if I want to do it at all. So, feminism and identity politics were not entirely in vain, and for that I am thankful.


The embroideries were exhibited at Make Shift Contemporary Textile Festival, Victoria, BC, 2018 and at Ministry of Casual Living Window Gallery, Victoria, Canada, 2019.