dear grandpa
dimensions variable | hand-embroidered letter on fabric + typewriter + pedestal
Dear Grandpa is a hand-embroidered, larger-than-life letter. Upon initial glance one might not even notice the embroidered scrawl: the cream thread provides little to no contrast to the gauzy cream fabric. One immediately gathers a sense of ephemerality upon viewing the weightless letter floating from the rusty, sturdy, and well-used typewriter borrowed from my grandfather. The actual words of the letter are not important, rather, the idea of sending a message heavenward is stressed. Yet, if one wants to read what I wrote, the words are visible. Excess fabric falls from the typewriter onto the floor – the letter is not complete.
In reality, the letter says more than what appears. As I was hand-embroidering the piece, stroke by stroke, there was a longer conversation happening. So, on the surface is a letter but embedded in the piece is a conversation.
In reality, the letter says more than what appears. As I was hand-embroidering the piece, stroke by stroke, there was a longer conversation happening. So, on the surface is a letter but embedded in the piece is a conversation.
Photos by Paul Perdomo