Seeing Red

Susan Bianchi

45 x 15 inches

ARTIST STATEMENT

Red, the color of passion, anger, and blood. The U.S. began with the Boston Tea Party, and we continue to protest, riot, and march down the long road of time to make our voices heard. Beginning with one ship, there are 506 signs, flags, and banners selected from 51 marches/protests/riots spanning 248 years. The nation and textiles are imperfectly woven together with frayed edges and loose threads. Year after year, we fight the same fights with very little improvement. Since the beginning, no decade has gone by without one or more anti-immigrant and racially motivated protest/riot. They have often involved destruction of property and personal violence. Red also can symbolize love. That gives me hope that someday we can do better. 

MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES

Materials: Hand-dyed gradient cotton, cotton batting, stabilizer, cotton thread. 

Techniques: Digitally manipulated photos combined into one image, images grouped into layers and individually colored, printed on gradient cotton, cut and woven back into one image, then machine stitched; hand knotted loose threads; satin stitch binding. 

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