FRAID: A Quilt Show

"FRAID: A Quilt Show" is my graduate thesis project. It is a collection of animations, hand-made textiles, soft sculptures, paintings, and augmented reality experiences.

It draws from a number of regional Southern traditions such as appliqué quilting and doomsday preparation, appropriating and repurposing common Middle American imagery in order to defang the causes of such cultures’ anxieties. The characters are vulnerable, human, and all intoxicated by an intangible fear rooted in the all-consuming worries of their day-to-day lives. They are seen through an empathetic lens and are reimagined as something compassionate and wholly capable of overcoming their problems. It’s an idealistic portrayal where viewers can connect with a culture that is often barbed and closed off so that they may build a foundation for understanding.

This project explores my own personal upbringing and makes an effort to communicate many cultural nuances.