The Underground Railroad was a secret network that helped fugitive slaves escape to Canaan (the North and Canada)in the early and mid 1800's. These paintings focus on the controversial tale of slave quilts used as codes, maps, and a means of communications of the Underground Railroad. The quilt codes are controversial for the lack of empirical evidence and suppositions based on oral narratives. The shape and location of the quilted fragments were thought to have placed a role in providing safe directions to fugitive slaves. A directional shape pointing to the left might mean travel west or a star shape could refer to following the night stars north.
Quilting was in my ancestry, and the passion for simple shapes and placement was passed on to me. I have a life long
fascination with shapes and marks as a metaphorical visual language. These paintings do not copy the quilt codes, but rather are references for visual content. This series uses encaustic (pure beeswax mixed with oil paint and damar crystals) with a subdued palette that has a tactile immediacy. Encaustic allows the painted surface to be gouged, scarred, and layered accordingly. Humble, recyled, and scavenged art materials (canvas, denim, paper, wood, paint) are chosen as homage to the time period and culture. This work is a response to the bleakest days of our history with the hope (real or imagined) that symbols such as the quilt codes did exist as signals to freedom.
Quilting was in my ancestry, and the passion for simple shapes and placement was passed on to me. I have a life long
fascination with shapes and marks as a metaphorical visual language. These paintings do not copy the quilt codes, but rather are references for visual content. This series uses encaustic (pure beeswax mixed with oil paint and damar crystals) with a subdued palette that has a tactile immediacy. Encaustic allows the painted surface to be gouged, scarred, and layered accordingly. Humble, recyled, and scavenged art materials (canvas, denim, paper, wood, paint) are chosen as homage to the time period and culture. This work is a response to the bleakest days of our history with the hope (real or imagined) that symbols such as the quilt codes did exist as signals to freedom.
