HOMESPUN
Home sizes have increased by 33% since 1980, less millennials live with their spouse than previous decades, nine states have 30 or fewer affordable housing units and the racial ownership gap are a few statistics imbedded in Olivia Johnson's textile piece, Homespun. Homespun is a new series of crocheted tapestries by Portland, OR-based artist Olivia Johnson, shedding light on the escalating issue of housing inaccessibility in the United States. Through the fusion of data and crochet, this collection of handmade tapestries brings a human element to statistical analysis, illuminating the human stories embedded within the numbers.
In the intricacies of the crochet stitches, each statistic is given a sensitivity - the time spent stitching these stark statistics is a time of reflection, provoking thought and discussion. Homespun beckons viewers to contemplate the profound impact of housing challenges on individuals, families, and communities. With its harmonious blend of craft and information, the work serves as a visual catalyst for dialogue, encouraging a collective exploration of the underlying causes of the housing crisis and inspiring the pursuit of viable solutions.
The material of a textile; fragile, but yet carrying the weight of these discussions also begs the consideration that a home is just as fragile. That a home is not as permanent as we might at first assume it to be. That materiality is not restricted to the limits of the physical but intimately affected by contexts, humanity, politics ad society.
Similar to Johnson’s previous projects including Women’s Work and Women, Work, & Covid-19, Homespun draws inspiration from the rich traditions of domesticity and the home, serving as a powerful reminder of the personal impact the housing crisis has on individuals, families, and communities. The stitches woven into each tapestry create a visual experience that not only encourages conversation but also acts as a catalyst for change.
For further information on Olivia Johnson's work:
www.o-j.co/
@o_j.co