Sewing & Us
The installation depicts the narrative of the relationship between a woman, her sewing machine, and her grandchild. Conceicao Duarte is my grandmother who has spent her entire life as a Seamstress after being taken out of school at the fourth grade level. Her life has circled around constructing garments from material to a finished product to support her family as they built a life in Portugal, then restarted in America during the 80's. I grew up spending sick days from school curled up in a cane-backed chair in her store front, listening to the repetition of needle and thread as my mother and grandmother altered clothing for customers.
My vision for the installation is to transform a space to this familiar memory curled up in a chair to a moment of honoring her legacy. The two main points of focus are her old sewing machine and a portrait of her hanging from the ceiling that is printed on fabric and embroidered. Between the two points, the continuous stream of thread moves from the sewing machine bobbin into a chaotic, but organized, web and transforms into the materials used to embellish the portrait of Conceicao. By utilizing materials to connect both points, a juxtaposition between an industrialized object, process of production, and a moment of honor are shown in one connected thought.
The personal connection between machine and portrait comes from my personal exploration in sewing garments for my own healing following the death of my grandfather, Conceicao's husband. My healing comes from a skillset she depended on to provide for her family.
Danielle Adelaide
@danielle.adelaide.art | @danielle.adelaide.art | danielleadelaide.com