Photographing Paper, Imagining Cloth
As I photographed the paper collage images for the Echoes of History quilt blocks, I was struck by how the layered paper, transferred photographs, and stitching began to mimic the texture and presence of fabric. Though made from paper, these pieces evoke the weight and memory of cloth—fragile yet full of story. I’ve especially loved displaying the long, vertical quilt block strips using oversized wooden clothespins, giving the impression of fabric panels hanging on a line. This simple installation choice helps suspend the work between two worlds—paper and textile, image and artifact. The garments, too, are presented as if they were real articles of clothing, draped over antique metal dress forms and wooden hangers, just as one might find in an attic or a historical exhibit. These small choices—how the pieces are hung, how they move, how they catch the light—create the illusion that the past is still wearable, still part of us, stitched together in memory and form.