Quinn Spence’s practice is that of expression through collaboration, which may occur between the artist and their human and non-human compaions, the built and living environment, string, cloth, dye, clay, glaze, and various art-making technologies. By activating the body, the environment, and the time, meaning, and memory holding capacities of string, cloth, and clay, Spence explores themes of relationality through craft.
Cat’s Cradle
Collection Notes
Audre Lorde defines love as the conscious choice to extend the self in order to nurture one’s own or another’s spiritual growth. This throws into question the very foundation of many peoples’ lives, as love is seen through this lens as being incompatible with abuse. This necessitates deep healing and self-reflection if we wish to have truly loving relationships.
In “Cat’s Cradle,” I hone in on the relationships that arise within families as a result of inheritance–which includes craft items and practices, engagement with rituals and religion, and generational trauma. Taking inspiration from the soft things that hold us, multigenerational craft practice, Jewish ritual observance, and a breadth of literature exploring love, trauma, time, and inheritance.
“Cat’s Cradle” asks us what it might look like to love without pain. How can we tap into our history to heal the present and turn towards a future of love?