hiding under the covers, a proposal

Here is the formal proposal for the installation. It is currently untitled.

Physical Description

I will construct a large quilt from translucent white muslin and cotton batting and suspend it from the ceiling of the gallery. The quilt will be large enough to continue down one wall and fall into folds on the floor. The suspended fabric will be hung slightly below head level, except for a portion near the entrance that will be hung above the top of the door (to allow viewers to enter and exit comfortably). The entire installation will be lit from above; the light will shine through the layers of fabric, illuminating the quilt and casting a warm glow over the room.

I will suspend the quilted fabric with around 40 or 50 strands of clear fishing line (monofilament), placed about six inches apart from each other. Each strand will be a different length, which
should create a rippling effect in the fabric. The entire sheet will be quilted from top to bottom with text that addresses the nature and process of memory and the idea of the quilt as a powerful memorial object. I will use white thread to sew the text, which will be based on my own experiences with quilts and quilting.

Here are two sketches to accompany the physical description. The first sketch is a cross-section of the gallery, showing all aspects of the installation. The second sketch is a partial view of the installation, as if seen lying down. The shading in this sketch shows how I imagine the fabric will be lit.

List of Materials

Clear fishing line

1" x 2"s, chicken wire or pig fencing, screws and staples for suspension frame (if necessary), rope and screws or hooks to hang

Ten to fifteen yards of translucent white fabric

Quilt batting

White sewing thread

White quilting thread