Untitled

13” x 7.5”

Embroidery, Sewing, & Beading, On Canvas & Fabric 

In Collaboration with Keeley Kuru, PhD student in the Freshwater and Marine Science at the University of Wisconsin – Madison

This piece is inspired by the idea that there is more beneath the surface than what we can see. In Northern Wisconsin bog lakes, entire microbial ecosystems exist in dark, acidic, tea-colored waters where light is scarce. In collaboration with Keeley Kuru through The Flow Project, I explored how microbes, such as green sulfur bacteria and Geotrix. form interconnected systems that cycle electrons and may help limit methane emissions.

I chose to work with beading, embroidery, and thrifted fabrics to reflect texture, cycles, and interconnectedness. Many of the beads come from my grandmother’s collection, connecting this work to traditions of pattern-making and natural resource use. My process was intuitive, allowing organic forms to emerge, much like microbial systems themselves. Because these microbial systems are invisible to the naked eye, they are often overlooked and difficult for the general public to connect with. Our project aims to make these largely invisible systems more visible and accessible to the public through art.