In Stitches
LTMH Gallery
New York, New York
November 12 – December 19, 2009

Curated by Beth Rudin DeWoody

In Stitches was a survey exhibition curated by Beth Rudin DeWoody exploring how contemporary artists use thread and stitching—literally and metaphorically—to create connection, tension, and narrative. Our contribution to the show was a work titled Spider Bag, which marked an important evolution in both our technique and our network.

The piece incorporated layered cashmere fabric—originally used to make a suit for William’s wedding—cut into graduated stacks and hand-stitched together using a catch stitch technique borrowed from garment construction. We used multi-strand threads gifted to us by a family friend in Coconut Grove, a woman in the early stages of Alzheimer’s whose family passed on her collection of beautiful sewing materials, knowing they would be cherished. The threads held weight—emotionally and physically—binding our materials and our memories.

The structure itself was a sculptural shift for us. We transitioned from using hand-formed corset boning to flexible rubber sheeting, which allowed us to quickly carve the shapes we envisioned. Gone were the porcelain sinks and endless hand-forming; in their place, a material that flexed, supported, and surprised us.

Group Exhibitions

This exhibition also brought new relationships—most notably our introduction to Craig Starr, who would later become a connector for us to the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska. That one group show eventually led to a statewide partnership for the National Scrollathon years later. It’s a testament to the power of group shows to build careers, relationships, and legacies, one stitch at a time.

When suspended within a frame, the layered forms took on a web-like geometry. We considered the tension, the arcs, and the spindly legs that gave the work a high, arched, almost arachnid presence. Thus the name: Spider Bag.