Channeling Anxiety
Natalie uses sewing and quilting techniques to create soft sculptures that playfully push controversial political issues. Her WARM GUN collection examines the United States’ issues of gun violence and masculinity through a collection of colorfully quilted, droopy, caricatures of assault weapons, bringing ‘macho’ objects into a traditionally feminine sphere and questioning their potency. BLOATED FLAGS is an exploration on the flag as a symbol with a variety of representations and swaying definitions of pride and shame. ALT CAPS explores the culture of online commenting through reactions received from her WARM GUN series. In her talk, Natalie talks through harnessing anxiety to create accessible art, unpacking political issues that have become points of division in today’s political and social landscape.