Retired Army officer and prolific fiber artist Caryl Gaubatz is featured in the 2019 winter issue (Vol 9 Issue 7). Her work entitled “Me Too” uses a garment to tell the story of her experiences in the military with regard to sexual harassment and discrimination.
I chose a wedding dress pattern, because wedding dresses imply innocence and hope for a meaningful relationship. The dress is made of cheap dressmaker’s muslin: lovely from afar but coarse and rough when up close. I chose tone on tone thread, which blends into the background, because sexism in the military may be covert. The dress is backless, because no one had my back. The edges are unfinished because the story is unfinished.
Many of Caryl’s works demonstrate narrative garments that tell stories.
Environmental and spiritual issues find their expression in my work. My intention is to produce exquisitely crafted soft sculpture that includes the body as its animating element.
“Me Too” was selected for Excellence in Fibers V and is on display at Muskegon Museum of Art through March 15, 2020.
To see more of Caryl’s works, visit her website at http://www.carylgaubatz.com/index.html
