All?
(white shirts from second-hand stores, hand-dyed thread, and clothespins)
Sandra Brick, Textile Artist
2020
The U.S. Declaration of Independence begins with the assertion that all are endowed with “certain unalienable rights.” Specifically, the nation’s founders listed, “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.“
The last three words of the Pledge of Allegiance, an expression of loyalty to country and flag, promise, “justice for all”.
With these shirts, I wonder if the US Government is protecting these “unalienable rights” for ALL. Is our government truly providing justice for all?’
I ask the viewer, “Are you a bystander just waiting to see if the promise of the Declaration of Independence is upheld or an upstander making sure everyone’s unalienable rights are protected?
Bio – Sandra Brick Textile Artist
Working with my hands has been an integral part of my daily life since childhood. Being a textile artist is, for me, an ongoing activity. I dye and stitch and invent new ways to embellish fabric. By sculpting with fiber, I incorporate space and also texture into my designs. Creating art involves solving problems, discovering possibilities, merging ideas, and sharing who I am.
Over the past 20 years, I have developed a diverse body of work including a set of 42 embroidered pieces that visually interpret haikus written by a local poet, 24 visual “translations” of memories written by a local Holocaust survivor, ten separate works of art depicting different themes for an interfaith artist circle.
Embracing ambiguity is the start of my process. Knowledge is also part of the process. Yet there is room for discovery and confusion. For me, art is really about being open to surprise.
Recently I have started aiming my work toward exploring social justice. Can the needle be used as a call to action?
Learn more at www.texturedelements.com
