ARTIST STATEMENT
This sculptural work explores the attachments created with toys during childhood and their loss of value as children grow up. It surrounds themes of guilt to connote the loss of important childhood memories in the passage of time. The soft sculptures encompasses the medium of sewing and incorporates unwanted, used, and rusted materials to convey the abandonment of childhood toys as they lose importance and are no longer taken care of. The works evoke bittersweet nostalgia at the remembrance of the importance the objects used to hold, and guilt at the loss of this connection.
ARTWORK PROCESS
Each textile sculpture is made from a collection of scrap fabrics stitched into large sheets. Paper mock-ups of each sculpture were made to determine their appropriate size and were then used as pattern pieces. After cutting these out, a sewing machine was used to stitch each piece together. Certain parts of the sculptures were handsewn for accuracy, as were details such ears and eyes. Metal components such as wheels were glued into holes within the base fabric of their sculptures while the spring was handsewn. The artworks were stuffed firmly with Polyfill to ensure they could stand independently.
