Laura Marsh American

My mother sewed my clothes and we recycled as a humble family growing up. I felt odd wearing asymmetrical garments. The concept of mending and repair has become obsolete for the new and updated. Today, I have a multidisciplinary textile practice that begins by combining materials. I then produce patterns to layer silkscreened and vinyl designs onto donated fabrics and carpets.

 

I produce banners that declare statements and pose questions to viewers. My work is accessible, funky, quirky, and celebrates individuality by inviting tactile sensations and active participation. Installations encourage viewers to sit, be mindful, and reflect upon texts and patterns. I speak about class, power, social distancing and quote world advocates such as Maya Angelou, Mahatma Gandhi, Gloria Steinem, and Cesar Chavez. I choose poetic phrases that transcend time and offer perspective about the human condition. 

 

I also respond to sites like the historic Deering Estate in Miami, where I recently had a solo exhibition and incorporate the reoccurring symbols of the third eye. The third eye is a symbol that traverses many cultures and which I've encountered in my own travels to Argentina and Spain as well as read about in Middle Eastern literature and ancient Greek history. The notion of the eye aiding to returning malevolent gazes back to the sender is a reassuring concept much like the wise quotes of Angelou.  I also learn techniques about conserving materials from recent trips to Guatemala and India. Like the weft of a weaving, (the cross threads that form a cohesive cloth) my mission supports reusing and making the most of materials as well as conscientious community building and safe spaces to engage.