Here's Where We Will Stay

Here's Where We Will Stay, Jim Hodges' ethereal assemblage of pieces of diaphanous silk and chiffon fabrics, is a delicate, yet striking work which plays with notions of memory to act as a receptacle for countless personal histories. Comprised of dozens of carefully sewn together headscarves and other pieces of fabric which the artist collected over a number of years, each section is infused with the story of the person who owned it and the life they led. By combining these into one large work, Here's Where We Will Stay becomes as much a document of social history as the traditional patchwork quilts and blankets that its form suggests. Yet there is also a powerfully physical dimension to the work too. Standing before Hodges' gently billowing scrim, the cascades of falling fabric act as a physical barrier between the viewer and the world that lies before them, the translucency of the fabric awarding us with a tantalizing glimpse through the work to this world beyond.

The patchwork of multi-colored fabric recalls the traditional crafts of ages past, yet the gossamer thin fabric and subtle palette are a far cry from the robust and protective nature of the quilts and blankets from which Hodges' technique is derived. Here's Where We Will Stay is one of only three works which Hodges' made out of silk scarves which he collected himself over a number of years. He favors working with domestic and unconventional materials and as beautifully demonstrated by Here's Where We Will Stay, the attention to detail with which he lavishes his works is resplendently visible in its surfaces. The scrupulous level of workmanship is clearly visible in the meticulous and labor-intensive activity with which Hodges celebrates the artisanal process. By assembling and sewing together these patches of fabric by hand, Hodges helps to emphasize the personal and human qualities for which his best works are known.