The Double Bind series explores historical and contemporary feminist themes from the perspective of a father of two young girls – particularly the gender bias that continues to evolve and present profound obstacles for women in both the domestic and professional realms.
The primary material used in the Double Bind series is store-bought paper sewing patterns applied directly to the canvas. The patterns are reinterpreted outside of their usual functional context as garment templates to present the female figure as an agent of revolt, stoic martyr, or fantastical being. In every instance the identity of the figure(s) is denied by wraps, bonnets and bound faces, suggesting an anonymous “everywoman” or veiled entity; not invisible, but fractious.
By embellishing the garment patterns with custom text from contemporary feminist writing
and criticism, a conceptual narrative is created alongside the existing material “narrative”of
imprinted assembly instructions. This added textual narrative disrupts the nostalgic or stereotypical notion of “women’s work” and admits an aggressive feminist dialogue into the visual conversation. The viewer is asked to read both the material and the image.
