Soft, Sloppy, Stories

Typically, books made from fabric are intended for infants, as a safe space to learn to read. However, my books are made for lovers, survivors, artists, her, him, them and me. The primary focus of my research is investigating and exploring the aesthetics of “Sloppy Craft” and textile-based publications. The publications examine power dynamics in female- and male-identifying relationships. In the secondary area of my research, I explore mental illness and trauma-based memories. The final collection of books borrows visual language from sketchbooks and journal entries. The books have an unfinished quality to help visually demonstrate the worsening of mental health. These books are intended to be interacted with in a gallery setting as they are created in relation to the scale of the body and how the body may interact with the books. The form, appearance and tactility of the books is a connection to the physical worsening of depression and distress through deconstructive elements such as fraying and ripping. My project invites open dialogue on mental health issues, but primarily anxiety and heartbreak. Key Terms: Sloppy Craft, Materiality, Textiles, Punk, Archive, Trauma