Bread and Roses
I was invited to be in the Dear Democracy Exhibition by the Mad Hatter Gallery in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
On the steel base are engraved phrases that reference women's collective contributions alongside historic slogans for equality.
Bread and Roses is my "Thank You Card" to the generations of women whose labor, sacrifice, and perseverance helped build the United States while often remaining unseen in its historical narratives.
The sculpture depicts the calf and high-heeled shoe of a woman emerging from a classical column. The column references the pillars upon which America stands, while the feminine form acknowledges the women who have served as one of those foundations throughout the nation's history. The work reflects the contradiction that women were expected to embody ideals of femininity while simultaneously performing essential labor in homes, factories, farms, hospitals, social movements, wartime industries, and more.
The steel silhouette objects that form the calf shape, represent the many roles women have occupied throughout American history. The shoe is filled with grain and metal rivets, symbolizing Bread and Roses. The grain represents sustenance and the essential labor women have provided throughout American history, while the rivets represent strength, industry, and the dignity women have continually fought to claim alongside their contributions.
I especially want to recognize the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), whose primary training facility was in my hometown of Sweetwater, Texas. These women risked their lives in service to their country, yet they were denied military status and many of the rights and benefits granted to male veterans. Their delayed recognition mirrors the larger history of women's labor and sacrifice being essential to America while remaining largely invisible within its history.
The title Bread and Roses reference the historic labor and women's suffrage movement slogan that called for both economic security and human dignity. Through this sculpture, I honor the generations of women whose work has supported democracy and the nation itself, even when their contributions were overlooked. The piece serves as a gesture of gratitude and recognition, a long overdue thank-you note to the women who helped build America and continue to shape its future.
