Artist Statement
Madame Defarge
Madame Defarge is the antagonist of Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities written in 1859. In the novel Madame Defarge is a ringleader to the tricoteuses, which is French for a knitting woman. The tricoteuses and Madame Defarge are remembered best for knitting next to the guillotine during public executions.
The woman in my work is a part of Madame Defarge that kept knitting after they closed the guillotine. She is not as political as Defarge but still raises questions. I used to bring needle craft projects with me to school when I was younger and have people tease me about it in class. Even working on this project during my commute to school I would receive questioning stares on the subway. My craft was not disruptive to those around me, but my location, and my age made my work seem odd to those around me. I have felt like this part Madame Defarge, and I’m sure, at some point in time, you have as well.