EMPATHY

2024, Muslin, Low-Fire Clay

This piece was made in collaboration with Lynsey Stratton and Sydney Mason

This piece was made in collaboration with my dear artist friends Lynsey and Sydney, and we were able to show it at our senior exhibition, Roots & Reverence. Our intention for the work was to create a physical manifestation of the feeling of empathy, carrying others burdens, and sharing your own. The quilted fabric is made up of prayers that were anonymously submitted by members of our community. They were able to leave the initials of who they were praying for, or another signifier (friend, father, sister, etc.) Some authors chose to leave their initials or name as well. We had a gathering where participants were able to come write their prayers on fabric, resulting in different handwriting all over the quilted piece. The beads draped over the fabric are stamped with the names, initials, and signifiers of those praying and being prayed for. The weight of the beads is held up by the prayers of those who love them.