The Mending Project consists of 1500 pairs of Chinese iron scissors suspended from the ceiling, pointing downwards, forming a menacing dark cloud. A woman sits beneath the countless sharp blades of the scissors and performs an ongoing simple task of mending. Viewers are invited to cut off small pieces of white cloth hung near the entrance of the gallery space and pass them onto the performer. The sewn fabric, filled with ridges and valleys of black stitches, lays bare on the floor beneath the cloud of scissors and grows in size throughout the performance. The Mending Project alludes to looming aggression and uncertainty, which are balanced and softened by the silent, simple action of mending.

Photo by Rino Pizzi

Photo by Rino Pizzi

Photo by Christy Cochran

The mended fabric grows in size throughout the duration of the performance, and takes over the vast area of the floor beneath the scissors.

Photo by Rino Pizzi

The installation stands alone without the performance. The sewing station—table, chair, needle and thread become my stand-in. They are evidence of actions happened that may happen again.