Liz Steketee

ENTANGLED
collage and textile installation, Sonoma Academy Art Gallery, 2022
digital photo collage, textile photo collage wall pieces, thread installations

My father passed away earlier this year after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. The cruelty of this disease and the process of watching the decay of a brilliant mind was devastating.
As always , I used my art practice to process the grief and pain we all experienced Using my photography and my family archives, I collaged disparate memories into unified pieces to explore the notion of jumbled and chaotic memory. I stepped into my father's shoes.

Using both digital photographic prints and photography printed on fabric, I attempted to step into my father's shoes to experience the swirling, confusing pile of mismatched memories and thoughts this disease is best know for. The collaged imagery and its' installation reflects the frightening and confusing state of mind he lived with; fractured and fluid memories, confusion and agitation, humor, beauty, and sadness.

Entangled is a combination of my sewn collaged photographs, and 5 oversized constructed textile works installed with connective webbing(thread). The 5 textile clothing works represent each person in my family of origin. Each piece of clothing represents my childhood memory most directly associated with that person, including myself. These pieces are connected by red thread to the collaged photographs as they are caught in the tangled, chaotic stew of memory, family, and experience. The connective tissue of the red thread references brain neurons, as well connection and strength.

Dad's Shirt

Clothing Triptych Wall

Liz's Dress

Mom's Dress and Entangled Brain 2 Installation

Mom's Dress

Brothers' Pants Diptych

Entangled Brain Installation 1

Entangled Brain 1 Detail, Engaged, Flower Head, Family Portrait2

Entangled Brain 1 Detail, Two Aunts

Entangled Brain 1 Detail, Few Die Well

Dad's Shirt

Clothing Triptych Wall

Liz's Dress

Mom's Dress and Entangled Brain 2 Installation

Mom's Dress

Brothers' Pants Diptych

Entangled Brain Installation 1

Entangled Brain 1 Detail, Engaged, Flower Head, Family Portrait2

Entangled Brain 1 Detail, Two Aunts

Entangled Brain 1 Detail, Few Die Well