Monkeywrench Quilt

Machine Pieced and Hand Quilted, 70x86”, 2024

On display at the 2024 Irwin Scholarship Exhibition, “Material Matters” in UCSCs Sesnon Gallery

“Monkeywrenching” refers to acts of nonviolent disobedience and sabotage carried out by environmental activists. While recognizing the controversial nature of tactics like tree spiking, I seek alternative ways to challenge existing systems without putting my community at risk. In this light, I view my art practice as a means to engage nonviolently in the direct-action movement for environmental liberation. Quilts, with their inherent accessibility and relatability, serve as powerful tools to bridge social, economic, racial, and generational divides, fostering dialogue on critical issues such as climate change and its impacts. By using the monkey wrench quilt square as a symbol of resistance, I create a comforting and familiar space for essential conversations about our environmental responsibilities.

In examining the historical context of my chosen medium, I found that cotton, the most widespread and profitable non-food crop globally, demands massive amounts of irrigation. On average, producing one square foot of cotton fabric requires about 100 gallons of water, varying by method and location. To address this staggering fact, I created a series of monkey wrench quilt blocks, each representing 100 gallons of water, highlighting the environmental costs embedded in everyday materials.