queer notion
queer notion is a project based in reflection, centered around a collection of six crocheted masks that visibly represent emotions that I experienced growing up as a closeted member of the LGBTQ+ community. A mask, as an object, holds a double-edged significance to the wearer. They can be a welcomed protective force or an unwanted obstruction of view.
Each mask is made to represent an emotional sensation that I have experienced in my identity journey:
dread | hesitancy | passion | frustration | self-reliance | hope
The masks are constructed with strips of used clothing, tied together to create yarn. I chose this material intentionally, as the clothes we wear are a reflection of identity both personally and within society. The performative nature of creating these objects holds significance as well - I did not follow a pattern or plan, nor did I undo any of the stitches. I allowed the mask to evolve as I sat with my memories and emotions. The masks are raw, textured, and organic, reflecting the tangled nature of emotional perception.
Recipient of the 2020 Margaret Stonewall Hamblet Merit Award Presented annually to a graduating senior in the Vanderbilt Department of Art who demonstrates artistic excellence and promise and is the culmination of a year-long thesis project.
