10 x 10 in. acrylic on wood panel

ARTifacts is an ongoing series and examination of cultural anthropology. Cultural anthropology has helped historians reconstruct the cultural history of societies that lack written documents, and has suggested new research techniques based on oral traditions. Anthropological comparison can also produce knowledge that can be used as a foundation for policy-making and societal improvements. Cultural anthropologists gather data through first-hand field study in other cultures and do cross-cultural comparative studies which provide crucial insights and understanding of the modes and patterns of human life. 

In these works I am taking a deeper analysis of textile anthropology which is the study of how cloth is important to humans across cultures and over time. It explores how textiles can embody culture, history, and identity, and how they can be used to communicate and protect. 

In many cases anthropologists may study how people dress for specific roles or jobs, how they express themselves, or how they display their wealth. They may also look at how textiles can reflect painful histories, such as colonialism, or how they can be used to declare territorial rights or ceremonial privileges.