As explored through the Materials & Meaning exhibition on view at the Center for Creative Connections, materials can be used as a vocabulary to express something about an artist or creator. Each concrete collage in this installation was made by an individual representing one of the Dallas Museum of Art communities; visitors, volunteers and partner organizations from 16 different groups, over 500 people. During each workshop I asked participants to consider how materials can become their vocabulary, allowing their choice of material and composition to tell us something about themselves. I have found my own vocabulary through the use of concrete and textile based media. I was initially drawn to these materials because of their opposition – the textiles are considered fragile and temporary while the concrete suggests permanence and strength. In this installation, I used concrete to suggest the lasting importance of the community relationships and the process of weaving to create a woven record of the individuals who are part of this community. Weaving the collages together allowed me to connect the participants in a new way. My intension is for them see how they are a part of a larger community and how their contribution to it is vital."
To document the project, the participants were asked to list their material choices and answer the question – “How do these materials represent you?” The video projected onto the looms is a compilation of selected responses from these records.
