Rosemary Meza-DesPlas
Neither Here, Nor There, 2007
hand-sewn human hair and graphite on book page from Betty Friedan's Feminine
Mystique
11 x 8 in.
Courtesy the artist and form & concept, Santa Fe
My fiber works are created by hand-stitching with hair. Utilizing hair as a vehicle for making art is informed by socio-cultural symbolism and feminism. Collecting and sorting my hair is a daily ritualistic act. For several years, I dyed my hair different colors to obtain a variety of values. The choice of medium keeps me tied to a reclusive, labor-intensive method of working. Mark-making is a visual anchor in my artwork: the marks could be sewn hair or graphite scribbles.
Due to my academic background in painting and drawing, I approach sewing hair from a drawing perspective. My process of stitching hair incorporates drawing techniques such as hatching, cross-hatching, and stippling. Some of the hair drawings are mixed media artworks and incorporate graphite, thread, or watercolor.
A self-taught fiber artist, I am cognizant of the history of sewing as a functional craft form in Mexican culture. My heritage is rooted south of the U.S. border; it informs my interest in addressing societal issues through art. Some recently explored topics include agency/activism and gender-based burdens. Socio-cultural issues are viewed through a multifarious lens of mass media, social media, and art history. Part of my studio practice involves researching and writing in tandem with examining socio-cultural issues through a feminist lens. My interdisciplinary artistic process takes the form of painting, video, spoken word, and installation art.
Dimension
Height: 11.00 in
Width: 8.00 in