I AM.

Lisa-Marie Sanders

It’s been quite a while since I made any artwork. Feeling rusty, I went back to a basic method I enjoy: piecing. I figured I’d start simple, but when I started designing, I was compelled to create this face. I explored many possibilities for female faces: mosaic, cubist, abstract, photo realistic, etc. before I decided.

When I first considered the theme “Integration” I was interested in depicting how we are the product of our experiences. I thought a face with multiple pieces could depict integration. Each piece of fabric is intended to represent an experience. The color and shapes represent the diversity of experience and the facial image represents the integration of these events. Stitching the pieces together was a metaphor for how we stitch things together in our mind and how the product is uniquely us: one of a kind.

I named the quilt “I AM.” to declare and celebrate the strength of women.

I chose simple straight quilting for the pieces; I didn’t want to detract from what I saw as the power of the quilt’s geometry. The subtle color and free flowing quilting of the background are intended to soften the image. The thread I used is a variegated pastel with a slight sheen.

“I AM.”  measures 46.5” H by 45” W.