The Mayhew Papers I. Acrylic, hot glue, papier-mâché on canvas, 12”x36”, 2022.
The Mayhew Papers II. Acrylic on canvas, 12”x36”, 2022.
The Mayhew Papers III. Acrylic on canvas, 12”x36”, 2022.
Solitude is a Cocoon, paper clay and acrylic on canvas, 16”x20”, 2022.
Some Fabled Moment, paper clay and acrylic on canvas, 16”x20”, 2022.
stoic and gentle, paper clay and acrylic on canvas, 16”x20”, 2022.
Artist Statement
These “wallpapers” seek to infest the site of domesticity, to make apparent the queer threads that weave through the history of this space and this city. Approaching from an archival perspective, I look at the drawings left in the margins of LGBT history; signatures, doodles, one-off illustrations, and turn this marginalia into patterns based on traditional wallpaper designs. By recreating their notes, these works become a collaboration between myself and the hands of the past. We are emerging from the cracks in the walls, we are surrounding you whether you can see us or not.
A Note on Sources
The imagery in The Mayhew Papers was taken from ephemera, logos, and doodles found in the Tim Mayhew Collection at UW. Tim’s work as a gay youth activist in Seattle paved the way for much of my own life, especially the time I spent here at the Vera Project as a teen. His strong will, fastidious record-keeping, and generosity with his knowledge have been noted by many; working with his archive was a special privilege, and I hope these works honor that. I encourage you to view Tim’s papers for yourself on the UW Special Collections site. thank you to everyone at UW Libraries for making these collections so accessible.
The text in “Waiting" and “Stoic and Gentle” was taken from writing by Jane Schonbrum and Amy Marvin, respectively. Jane and Amy are brilliant artist/writers whose words I have borrowed when none of my own would fit, both in art and in my own life.
