Rachel Meginnes
In its worn and tattered state, the retired quilt reveals a rich
history. With its faded colors marking the passage of time and its
torn edges signaling the end of its utility, the quilt is stripped of
both personal history and practical functionality. As a signifier of
past experience, the quilt has become my metaphor for loss and
persistence. Through stitch-by-stitch deconstruction, I remove
the quilt’s central layer to expose the wear and tear within.
Sometimes gaping, sometimes minor, the holes in the batting
depict inner damage as well as profound beauty.
Using thread and paint, I turn these leftover webs of fiber that
once lay on a bed into dimensional paintings for the wall. Color
and pattern mark each surface, highlighting old channels of
stitching and all previous indications of making. My objective
is not to preserve or conserve, but to pay tribute to the ability
to persevere.