You Held Me Once

The first house I knew was my paternal grandmother’s home in Lithonia, Georgia. It was built in the 1970s, made of yellow brick, and had a screen porch. My father grew up there too, and recalls riding up and down the same street on his bicycle, watching the construction of neighboring houses. There was so much built up in that house, decades of history, family photos, and mismatched objects that I can only vaguely recall. I don’t remember much from that time in my life. All I have are fragmented memories, impressions, and photographs taken by other family members. I might not be able to hold on to those memories, places, and people, but they affected me and shaped parts of who I am. They were the backdrop of my early life.

The installation in 'You Held Me Once' utilizes found furniture that mimics the aesthetics of my first home, combining it with inherited textiles crafted by the hands of my foremothers. I juxtapose them with my current textile work, which explores my own queer, non-binary identity. I want to understand who I am and alleviate the alienation I feel with my body and family, through soft, touchable objects such as blankets and pillows. Blankets become arms for absent figures, cushions and pillows are objects to be held. Through this work, I ask myself how much of that inherited culture, genetics, and language influenced my identity. What do I hold on to and what do I let go? The pieces in this show both honor my past and family, and allow me to explore new possible futures.