I am working on my exhibition ethos, though, and ideas are taking shape. I'm thinking about immigrants to America over the past couple of hundred years and how they have shaped the way American society and culture operate. The only true universals for the USA are celebrating Thanksgiving (everyone does this regardless of credo) and July 4th (Independence Day/founding of the country). All the immigrant groups have managed to retain and develop their own art, costume (and stitch) and culture. The only things that really tie them together are those celebrations and the American flag. This gives me ideas of separation linked by red/white/blue. Then there's thinking about what that flag means within the culture - it seems to have a life of its own!
Then there's thinking about being an immigrant myself and whether my experience is the same as that of other immigrants : hanging on to scraps of heritage, passing on only what helps define me to my children to help define them.
Not quite an artists' statement but getting close.
Off to try needle and thread! til next time...
