| Photography |

Woven Embrace

Senior art thesis exibit at Gordon College, Spring 2021.

Sophia Cannistraci
Artist Statement for Woven Embrace

In a time of distance, removal from contact with others, and extreme loneliness, this project is an offering of closeness. Using aesthetic qualities of color, shape, and abundance to create feelings of intimacy, joy, and comfort, this project is meant to be a gift of encouragement for the viewer.

Cloth is particularly intimate, something worn on the body, formed to a human’s shape, chosen according to their taste. Cloth is a visual expression of personality, priorities, and affection. It has many roles, from favorite sweater to picnic blanket: cloth is associated with physical connections, memories, and cherished occasions. 

The images in this abstract photography project are minimally edited, presented as seen through the lens. My hope is to share the intimacy we all are craving with beautiful and close images of cloth that blur in and out of focus as the human eye does when in varying proximity to people we love.

There are also postcards available for visitors to take with them: a way to carry the project with you and also to offer it to someone else in the mail, potentially closing the divides of loneliness further with that thoughtful communication. 

So come and rest in the comfort and beauty of this woven embrace. You are not alone. Bring a postcard with you, send one, and savor the connection.