Are You…?, 2025

Hand embroidery and appliqué on quilted panel

14 × 11 in.

“Are You…?” is a hand embroidered appliqué piece created for Sound and Vision, a group show at Hecho a Mano Gallery in Santa Fe, NM curated by Martha Traer. The show brought together 30 artists who each chose one song to bring to life in a visual medium. “Are You..?” is inspired by a song of the same name by Albuquerque-based band Chicharra, and you can listen to the song here.

I first heard this song at a show two days after the 2016 election, in the middle of some heavy personal strife in addition to all the collective grief felt that week. I remember looking up and seeing tears streaming down the band’s faces in the stage lights, and realizing everyone in the room including myself were silently weeping. I suddenly felt so held in that feeling of shared grief, like we could each take turns being held by that feeling, like it just might carry that weight. I’ve thought about that feeling a lot in recent years and was excited to have the opportunity to visualize it for this show. 

Many thanks to Chicharra for gifting music to the world that has held and carried me through the worst and best of times.