FORECLOSURE   QUILTS

My previous work as an urban planner made me acutely aware of how big an impact the foreclosure crisis would have on our cities and towns throughout the United States. However, very little was mentioned in the news. It was important to me to present the whole story in a way that would captivate people’s attention and make a memorable statement. Making map quilts seemed an ironic solution. Quilts act as a functional memory, an historical record of difficult times.  It is during times of hardship that people have traditionally made quilts, often resorting to scraps of cloth when so poor they could not afford to waste a single thread of fabric. The neighborhoods shown are not an anomaly; they are a recurring pattern seen from coast to coast, urban to suburban neighborhoods across the US. The problem has not been solved, it is still occurring, just changing shape, affecting more of us.

To read more on the foreclosure series read the interview in Bloomberg News CityLab​.

Chicago Foreclosure Quilt, 2013
Embroidery thread and recycled string on linen and wool
42" x 31"

Washington, DC Foreclosure Quilt, 2015
Embroidery thread and recycled string on linen and wool
84" x 57.5"

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Chicago Foreclosure Quilt details, 2013
Embroidery thread and recycled string on linen and wool
42" x 31"

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Atlanta Foreclosure Quilt, 2011
Recycled denim, bleached linen, yarn and embroidery thread
19.5" x 19.5"

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Cleveland Foreclosure Quilt, 2011
Cotton, linen, recycled denim and embroidery thread
60" x 25"

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Detroit Foreclosure Quilt, 2011
Cotton, wool, linen, cheesecloth, embroidery thread
44" x 22"

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Las Vegas Foreclosure Quilt, 2011
Recycled denim, wool, yarn and embroidery thread on bleached linen
36" x 12"

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Modesto Foreclosure Quilt, 2011
Tea stained voile, linen, cotton and embroidery thread
16" x 42"