Invisible Thread 

Artist Statement:

Growing up with exposure to every romantic comedy, Disney princess movie, and Taylor Swift song imaginable may have resulted in my overinflated idea of love. This exposure has left me believing that everyone has a sole mate, everyone has that particular person they are meant to be with, and love at first sight is real. We are connected to that person right now, even if we have yet to meet. 

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Yet in my life, I have experienced anything but that fairytale adventure in my journey to find love. Technology has dramatically altered how people experience the world, especially when it comes to dating and finding love. In online dating, people must judge someone on a few images, some yes or no text, and a paragraph (maybe) that people likely won't read anyway. Despite the messaging and my personal experience with love, I hold that the fairytale adventure still exists. Still, I express my distaste for real-life experiences through the different series of works presented in this show. 

Using traditional domesticated women's materials and artmaking styles such as embroidery, quilting, and macrame, I thread together the brutal messaging of my reality in a playful fashion. Facing this messaging head-on gave me confidence in my decision-making and the ability to feel comfortable showcasing the many emotions of finding love online. This sampling which documents only my own experience of using technology, shows my one-sided encounters with trying to find my life partner in a playful in-your-face manner. But the reality of the message is this, what women face daily with degrading text, pictures, and more from strangers on the internet is not alright. I am not alone in my experience, yet I know that collectively, women deserve better.