Textile Heirlooms; Kinship Focus
Location
Ponderosa Room C
Presentation Type
Presentation
Presentation Topic
Textiles, Fiber arts, women
Start Date
6-3-2026 10:10 AM
Event Sort Order
9
Abstract
Everyone has a sentimental item passed down from the maternal side of the family. In the IRB approved project, “The Textile Maker’s Heirloom," I will be compiling a series of interviews to discuss the impact of fiber heirlooms in families and the relationship that the owners create with the object. Interviewees will be questioned about who made the item, what the item is, and their feeling towards the item. Topics of what an heirloom is, memorialization, and the socialization of women will be discussed during the presentation. These topics are analyzed through “The Material Kinship Reader: Material beyond extraction and kinship beyond the family” by Clementine Edwards and Kris Dittel. From this analysis I will also curate a collage of the textile items from interviewees to create a cohesive scene from what I gather from interviews.
Oftentimes, fiber items that are used daily aren’t mentioned unless prompted by a sentimental memory of the maker. This question was posed from my own experience as a fiber artist and having items from my grandmother as well as noticing that everyone has an item from a maternal figure in their life. These items hold stories that are passed down through generations and held close to families.
Textile Heirlooms; Kinship Focus
Ponderosa Room C
Everyone has a sentimental item passed down from the maternal side of the family. In the IRB approved project, “The Textile Maker’s Heirloom," I will be compiling a series of interviews to discuss the impact of fiber heirlooms in families and the relationship that the owners create with the object. Interviewees will be questioned about who made the item, what the item is, and their feeling towards the item. Topics of what an heirloom is, memorialization, and the socialization of women will be discussed during the presentation. These topics are analyzed through “The Material Kinship Reader: Material beyond extraction and kinship beyond the family” by Clementine Edwards and Kris Dittel. From this analysis I will also curate a collage of the textile items from interviewees to create a cohesive scene from what I gather from interviews.
Oftentimes, fiber items that are used daily aren’t mentioned unless prompted by a sentimental memory of the maker. This question was posed from my own experience as a fiber artist and having items from my grandmother as well as noticing that everyone has an item from a maternal figure in their life. These items hold stories that are passed down through generations and held close to families.
Presenter Bio
Avril Martin is a multifaceted artist and researcher at the University of Central Oklahoma. They are the Community Art Liaison at the Women’s Research & BGLTQ+ Center. Upon graduating, they plan on being a full time artist. A fun fact about Avril is that they love making latte art.