SOFT WORKS
She’s My Cherry Pie, 2021
Yarn, VHS tape, glue, various textiles
This 5’x6’ tufted rug examines the allure of advertising and product packaging that appears playful and enticing yet conceals hidden realities. Bright pink tones and the “cherry” flavor of milk of magnesia evoke candy-like appeal, recalling my childhood memories of empty bottles tucked away in the basement. Only later did I understand how this product became tied to my sister’s eating disorder. Soft sculpture is also used conceptually, looking back at trauma with a gentler reflection of those times and inviting the viewer to sit with those feelings.The title, borrowed from Warrant’s She’s My Cherry Pie, underscores another layer of critique—how female identity is framed through male desire, a recurring archetype in 1990s pop culture.
Dirty Dancing, 2021
VHS tape
Sourced from a VHS copy of Dirty Dancing, this work unravels the film to expose both its physical materiality and the cultural influence it held for its viewers. The act of unraveling and reweaving the tape became a meditative and cathartic process—an exploration of relationships, bodily expression, and sexual desire. The final form, a flag, emerges as a symbol of reconciliation, embodying both healing and a state of heightened awareness.
This piece is part of Alfred University’s permanent collection.
Blinded by the Light, 2021
Aluminum blinds
This work draws imagery from personal notebooks of the 1990s, collaged with pages from teen magazines that shaped and targeted young women. The assemblage forms a visual mind map, layered onto blinds as both surface and metaphor. It raises questions about identity—what we choose to reveal, and what remains hidden behind the blinds. The piece reflects a cultural moment when pop culture’s voyeuristic tendencies were on the rise, just before privacy gave way to the hyper-exposure of modern life.
