Sayward Johnson
Artist
My textile-based works are woven, knitted and embroidered. Weaving and knitting are techniques which interlace two distinct groups of threads and create functional or ornamental fabrics. In this way, a single wire can transform into a larger, stronger entity, and serves as a sound metaphor for the unity of people and voices. For centuries, handicrafts were situated at the bottom of art's hierarchical totem pole, but now more than ever, they are at the forefront of the art world, perfectly suited to the adoption of a profoundly political topics and subversive art. I believe that traditionally female handicrafts such as knitting, weaving, and embroidery serve not only as expressions of art, but as cathartic methods of investigating personal experiences, and reflecting on political and social issues.
