"Six More Times It Shouldn't Have Happened"

Cloth, embroidery thread, embroidery hoops, monofilament

Video:

Thoughts:

For this piece, I decided to focus on marital violence. I chose 6 true stories where women experience domestic violence and embroidered them on rings to represent the stories and the women (almost like a tribute and a record in history). I decided to embroider to represent how women are stuck in their 'spheres' as said by Revered John Milton Williams in 1893:

"Woman has no call to the ballot-box, but she has a sphere of her own...divinely appointed gurdian of the home...she should more fully realize that her position [is] wife and mother...dismiss all ambition for anything higher, as there is nothing else here so high for mortals"

 Essentially discussing how women are trapped into their specific domains by men and abused. Not only are we subject to oppression throughout history, but we are also expected to 'put up with' domestic violence. The red thread represents the blood and pain women have had to go through.

I had to actively search for stories of domestic violence, none were covered by the news, illustrating how we glaze over these horrendous acts and how society has a long way to go. Through this piece I would like to speak up for these women (and women in general), hopefully bringing more awareness to the subject.