dressed -, up

dressed -, up looks at what we learn about being a girl and a woman through clothing, play, family, and the expectations that come with them. The tabs on the dress hint at a paper doll outfit, something made to be placed onto a body and worn as a role. The floral pattern comes from my grandmother’s pitcher in Germany, bringing a piece of my own family history into the image. An embroidered clothespin moves through the print, connecting childhood play with domestic work and the labor that so often becomes part of womanhood. dressed -, up considers what gets passed down to us, what we are taught to put on, and what we decide to carry forward.