So Many Hopes

Sophia Narrett uses her chosen medium of embroidery to create sculptural works with broad, open narratives for her viewers to explore. Applying her background in painting, Narrett treats the embroidery thread like brushstrokes of paint, building strands in a way similar to paint on a canvas that similarly results in a detailed, textured surface of color. Narrett’s works combine imagery from various areas of mass culture—from pop stars and reality TV contestants to historical figures and locations of everyday life—to weave a suggestive story for the viewer to interpret. In So Many Hopes, Narrett depicts a thrift store, where women shop and bond. A memorial to Susan B. Anthony occupies the composition at lower right, and a ritualistic relationship encounter dominates the space at upper right. All these scenes unfold within a set of fictive tree branches. While playful, the work shows a strong, positive feminine environment. Both the content and medium of the work raise questions about hierarchies in society, such as women’s roles, and argue for the valuation of “craft” mediums as art.

Text written by Kat Hubbard
Student Committee Selection 2016–2017

2016-17

Image courtesy of the artist.

Embroidery thread, aluminum, and fabric

53in x 33in (unframed)