Through my work, I explore dreamscape imagery as a means of navigating the complexities of family history. In this dreamscape realm, I unravel subconscious memories as I engage with intuitive processes of quilting, weaving, cyanotype printing and sculpting. I utilize elements of traditional textile processes to archive oral family storytelling, personal memories, and found memories to form narratives that accept both a blurred recognition of the past and the stark realities of the present. Anchored by domestic found objects, plant matter, and distorted images, the mixed media woks become enduring individual narratives. I aim to present forgiving, vulnerable personal narratives holding the presence of severe mental illness, addiction, connection to the land, grief, and lost family history. Through these narratives, both found and personal, I aim to create a space that examines what it means to piece together who we are, where we come from, and ultimately a collective sense of healing.

annajcarlsonart@gmail.com