Work samples

  • The Wait
    The Wait

    The Wait addresses Migration and in this image people from various parts of the world that are waiting in a queue to be allowed into the country. The work is photographed and manipulated with hand and machine embroidery on cotton fabric. 

  • In Memoriam Curtain 2020-2022
    In Memoriam Curtain 2020-2022

    The large Installation shows some of the victims killed as a result of gun violence and police brutality in the USA. The work is created on handmade felt digitally photographed and manipulated with hand and machine stitch. The work is comprised of 63 panels with the names of the many victims killed re: early 1930s to the present day. This work was also a learning experience for the artist as some of the names were not known at the time. By creating this work I hope to raise public awareness to the issues that have taken place and continue almost every day in our country. Dimensions: 13ftHx12ftWx0.5"D Medium: Textiles/thread Year 2022

  • Child Bride 2000
    Child Bride 2000

    The image shows a young child bride 12 years of age. This system is practiced in some parts of the world. The work is textiles incorporating hand and machine embroidery.  Size 36"Hx38"Wx1"D 

  • 2023 Cape Town Installation

    Cape Town Installation -History of A Place 2019-2023

About Maria-Theresa

Baltimore City

I have been a professional artist for over 50 yrs  it is a part of my life and work. Throughout my long career I worked as a Community Artist both in the UK and the USA. The part-time hours per week although, financially difficult, gave me the flexibility to concentrate on my Art. Being an artist is not only the creative drive, but a sense of well being which is important esepecially as one grows older. Dialogue with the work, exploring various materials,methods and 
process thus… more

Social Justice/History

The work in this Project addresses Social Justice, in particular, the many killings as a result of Gun Violence and Police brutality in the USA. It also relates to the history of this country. The images are digitally photographed and manipulated with stitch on handmade felt, textiles, etc. In Memoriam Curtain had an immediate response by some viewers who have written poem, texts in relation to this large Installation.  Dimensions: 12ftHx10ftWxo.5"D  2020-2023.

The Innocent 2012-2022 relates to the victims killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut and Robb Elementary School in Uvalde,Texas. These works are circular in context (Spiritual Journey)  The work is richly layered with stitch using the sewing machine and computer. Wood (Gun) is incorporated in the work -wood using the laser cutter and stitch (Text)

The Project also includes Migration, (The Wait) and the forced, arranged Marriages of young Brides in some parts of the World.

 

  • In Memoriam Curtain 2020-2023
    In Memoriam Curtain 2020-2023
  • In Memoriam Curtain detail 2
    In Memoriam Curtain detail 2

    The killing of George Floyd in 2020 created several demonstrations around the World. The work is created on handmade felt and richly layered with stitch. The stitched text  shows the many countries in the world where the demonstrations were held.

  • In Memoriam Curtain detail
    In Memoriam Curtain detail

    The detail of this image is created on handmade felt and is richly layered with stitch using the digital sewing computer and measures 9"Hx3"Wx0.1"D.

  • The Response (In Memoriam Curtain)
    The Response (In Memoriam Curtain)

    The Installation -In Memoriam Curtain 2020-2023 created an immediate response to those that viewed the work. This piece is created in textiles using stitch re: Text (a student) who was emotional when he saw the work. 

    Dimensions: 30"Hx15"Wx0.1"D (2023)

  • The Innocent 2012-2022
    The Innocent 2012-2022

    The Circle in context represents a spiritual journey. The work shows the victims of 2 schools -Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown,CT and Uvlade,Texas -Robb Elementary School. The images are created in textiles using stitch, paint, metal, and thread.

    Dimensions: 36" in Diameterx1"D

  • Uvalde 2022
    Uvalde 2022

    The image of this work represents the Mandala (Sacred Space) The Gun is created on wood incorporating stitch and the laser cutter.

    Dimensions: 36" Diameter. 40"Hx36"Wx1"D

  • The Gun
    The Gun

    The Gun has been used as a symbol by many artists -in this instance it is created on wood using stitch and the laser cutter. It is a detail of the work -Uvalde 2022.

    Dimensions: 13" Diameterx1"D

     

  • Child Bride 2001
    Child Bride 2001

    The practice of forced and arranged marriages  among young girls is found in a few countries around the world. The image shows a young bride of 12 years of age. The work is created on Indian textiles using hand and machine embroidery, wood, photography. Size 36"Hx30"Wx1"D

  • Homage 1998
    Homage 1998

    This work pays homage to the young brides that are forced to marry some as young as 12 years old. This practice takes place in some countries of the world. The work is dyed, painted, stitched and printed. Size 36"Hx30"Wx1"D.

  • Exclusion 2008
    Exclusion 2008

    The wearing of the veil is  a compulsory form of dress in some countries. Failing to comply with this rule can result in death! The image here is photographed, printed and executed in stitch created on the manual sewing machine. The contemporary veil is lace like rather than the traditional veil which is opaque.

Place and History

The large Installation consists of 92 panels with 6 Sections showing the various parts /history of this City. The panels can be arranged in any order or configuration. The work is created on cotton fabric using digital photography, print, stitch and collage. Dimensions: 6ftHx16ftWx0.1"D

Section 1. Cafe Boards. The Boards are placed at the entrance of the Cafe and are quire amusing. 

Section 2. The various Townships and Neighbourhoods.

Section 3. Sport: The Rugby S.A. Team won the World Champships 2019 and 2023

Section 4. The Malay Neighborhood (Bo-Kaap) is culturally rich and diverse with its shops, places of interest etc. 

Section 5. Slavery and the many demonstrations held before and after Apartheid

Section 6. The Resources and Landmarks of Cape Town i.e. the Ibis Hadeda Bird,Vineyards, Penguins on the Beach.

Included in this Project is a Laser cut Installation which is a development of some of the work included in the Cape Town Installation and the Dress of Walls-Cape Town.

  • Cape Town Installation 2019-2023
    Cape Town Installation 2019-2023
  • Cape Town Installation 2019-2023 Section 1
    Cape Town Installation 2019-2023 Section 1

    Section 4 - Neighbourhood of Cape Town called Bo-Kaap. The place is interesting with its mosques, temples, food, restaurants. The images are digitally photographed and manipulated with stitch held together with magnets. The individual panels can be moved and arranged in any order or configuration. Each Strip indicates the context of the work i.e. Neighborhoods.

  • Cape Town Installation 2019-2023 -View 5
    Cape Town Installation 2019-2023 -View 5

    This Section relates to the Slavery, Apartheid regime of S.A. The images illustrate the many demonstrations, prison cell where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years. The work is digitally photographed, printed and manipulated with stitch, text, created by hand and machine embroidery. Each Section depicts various parts of this interesting City.

  • Cape Town Installation 2019-2023 detail 1
    Cape Town Installation 2019-2023 detail 1

    This activist in the early demonstrations of the 1970s was brutally tortured in S.A. The image is digitally photographed and further manipulated with stitch (text) on cloth. Dimensions: 9"Hx4"Wx0.1"D

  • Cape Town Installation 2019-2023
    Cape Town Installation 2019-2023

    The Slave Bell was used to summon the slaves during apartheid in S.A. Here the image is richly layered with hand and machine embroidery to add dimension. The work is created on cotton fabric and the panel is 9"Hx3"Wx0.5"D.

  • a Patch of Cape Town 2020-2022 (Laser)
    a Patch of Cape Town 2020-2022 (Laser)

    The Installation was created after the initial Cape Town series (Laser) on wood. The images from the initial large fabric Installation is further developed using new technology i.e. the laser cutter. The images include digital and hand embroidery and are executed on wood using the laser cutter. Dimensions: 3ftHx6ftWx1"D

  • A Patch of Cape Town 2020-2022 detail 1
    A Patch of Cape Town 2020-2022 detail 1

    The image portrays the logo of one of the restaurants in the Bo-Kapp Neighbourhood  This site is popular with tourists from around the world as it is a vital part of the city. The Malay Community migrated here several years ago from SE Asia. The image is created on wood using the laser cutter incorporating stitch generated on the sewing computer. This work is a developement of one of the images in the large Installation which is textile based (Cape Town Installation 2019-2023) Dimensions: 10"Hx4"Wx1"D

  • A Patch of Cape Town 2020-2022 (detail 2)
    A Patch of Cape Town 2020-2022 (detail 2)

    The detail simply sends a Message of Hope. The work is executed on wood with the laser using embroidered text and assemblage.

    Dimensions: 8"Hx12"Wx2"D.

  • Dress of Walls 2019-2020
    Dress of Walls 2019-2020

    This piece was created after my brief visit to Cape Town. I found the place inspiring and although beautiful the Walls around the homes, surroundings drew my attention. Dress is a form of protection hence the structure in this form is created with folds, pleats etc. The images are photographed, printed and further manipulated with hand and machine embroidery and show some of the areas surrounding the city. Dimensions: 48"Hx30"Wx2"D

  • Dress of Walls-Cape Town 2019-2020 (detail)
    Dress of Walls-Cape Town 2019-2020 (detail)

    The Malay Couple are shown in this work.  This is an interesting and cultural part of the city of Cape Town with its rich diversity i.e. mosques, temples, good food etc. The walls are created in on fabric folded, creased and pleated. Embroidery using both the manual and digital sewing computer is used.

History of A Place 2002-2018

The Place(s) in this Project relates to cities where the artist has lived and been influenced by the cultural diversity of the area.

The works are photographed, printed and manipulated with stitch using textiles as the background. 

  • Undulating Thames Barrier E.London 2010
    Undulating Thames Barrier E.London 2010

    This part of London (Thames Barrier) has been redeveloped and parts of the landscape is planned ie (Landscape Architecture)

    The fauna is well structured and colourful. The image shows the flowers, greenery created with handmade felt using hand and machine embroidery to add form and structure. Size 3ftHx5ftWx3"D

  • Undulating Thames Barrier (detail)
    Undulating Thames Barrier (detail)

    The colourful fauna is captured on handmade felt using hand dyes, hand and machine stitches. The work is a relief in that it is 3D. Size 36"Hx60"Wx3"D

  • E.London 2000-2009
    E.London 2000-2009

    The Installation is textile based using photography and richly layered with stitch using hand and the manual sewing machine. The images show the rich cultural diversity of E. London where the artist lived for several years. Images show a mosque, hindu temple, Sikh marriage the shops etc. Each panel describes various aspects of the city. Included too is the Pearly King and Queen of London. 

  • E.London (detail)
    E.London (detail)

    The image shows the Pearly Queen with a Sikh participant. This is now a multi cultural ceremony than what was practiced in the early 1800s. The costumes are richly decked with beads, buttons and sequins. The Pearlies as they are called raise money for Charity and is a landmark of London. The work measures 6"Hx4"Wx0.1"D.

  • Baltimore A City of Contrasts 2015-2018
    Baltimore A City of Contrasts 2015-2018

    The large Installation shows various parts of the city of Baltimore. e.g. the poor neighbourhoods and the more affluent part of the city.

    The panels are created on fabric, printed, photographed and stitched. Size of the entire piece is 6ftHx4ftWx0.5"D

  • Baltimore -A City of Contrasts 2015-2017 (detail)
    Baltimore -A City of Contrasts 2015-2017 (detail)

    There are not many homes left in Baltimore now with the old door screens. This image is of a house in Patterson Park, Baltimore where the artist lived for a few months. The detail shows the screen door and includes print, photography, stitch. Size 12"Hx6"Wx0.1"D

  • Oases of Wealth-Deserts of Despair-Baltimore 2016 (Front View)
    Oases of Wealth-Deserts of Despair-Baltimore 2016 (Front View)

    The Screen shows the front view of some parts of the city of Baltimore. The poor and more affluent neighbourhoods. The surface is created with handmade felt incorporating images that are printed and further manipulated with stitch. This is also a collaborative work in which the text is created by a poet. The text is stitched. Size 6ftHx3ftWx1"D.

  • Oases of Wealth-Deserts of Despair Front View (detail)
    Oases of Wealth-Deserts of Despair Front View (detail)

    The wealthy house was found in the Roland Park area of Baltimore. The work is created on handmade felt and richly layered with hand and machine embroidery. Size 12"Hx15"Wx0.5"D

  • Oases of Wealth-Deserts of Despair Back View(  2015-2016
    Oases of Wealth-Deserts of Despair Back View( 2015-2016

    The Back View of the folding screen shows the poor neighbourhoods of Baltimore including the text by the poet,Stephen Pohl. The surface is handmade felt incorporating  images that are printed and layered with hand and machine stitches. 6ftHx4ftWx1"D

  • Oases of Wealth-Deserts of Despair Back View (detail)
    Oases of Wealth-Deserts of Despair Back View (detail)

    Baltimore has several abandoned buildings and most of them are inhabitable. The image here is photographed, printed and stitched with hand and machine embroidery to add form and dimension. The surface is handmade paper. Size 6"Hx9"Wx0.5"D

Social Justice 2/ History of a Place (1990s-2018)

This Project shows the abuse some women have experienced re: Comfort Women of Korea during the Japanese occupation, the escape of Anne Maria Weems to Canada in the 1860s. Anne Maria Weems was only 15 years of age when she escaped her slave captors. (Rockville,MD).  The Child Brides of India who are forced in marriage at a young age. The works in these series are textile based using stitch/print/photography to add form and dimension.

A residency in Rockville, Md, (2017-2018) was the result of a Solo Exhibition in which several works were created addressing the History of the African American Community who lived there in the 1800s. Some of the works were collaborative (Poet) and were created as Book Covers one of which is shown in this series /Project.

  • The Shroud (Front View) 2018
    The Shroud (Front View) 2018

    The work is composed of copper wire mesh folded, pleated to add form and dimension. The structure is the form of a covering in this respects alluding to the young slave girl who escaped to Canada from her captors in the mid 1800s. Size 3ftHx28"Wx6"D

  • The Shroud Back View 2018
    The Shroud Back View 2018

    The Back View of this image shows the folds, pleats and structure of the work. Size 3ftHx28"Wx6"D. Several works relating to the History of the African American Community who lived in Rockville at the time (1800s) were created by the artist. The Sentinel newspaper published in Rockville at the time showed many Ads (Rewards and Jobs) etc.

  • The Shroud detail
    The Shroud detail

    The detail of the work shows the copper wire mesh which is pleated, folded and manipulated with thread to add dimension and form to the work. This work alludes to the attire or  a covering that is imaginary to escape the slave captors at the time. A contemporary version to that of what may have been worn. 

  • Unchained Yet Not Free 2018
    Unchained Yet Not Free 2018

    The work relates to the History of the African American Community who lived in Rockville in the 18th Century. This work alludes to the plight of the young Anne Maria Weems who escaped her slave captors at this time. The piece is textiles using hand stitch and accessories i.e. the Chains. Size 15"Hx10"Wx3"D

  • Unchained Yet Not Free 2018
    Unchained Yet Not Free 2018

    The image shows a detail of the work Unchained Yet Not Free. It relates to the African American History of Rockville, MD. The work is textile based showing the accessories i.e. chains, stitch, textiles etc. It refers to the attire (Imaginary) of perhaps Anne Maria Weems who escaped her slave captors in the mid 18th Century.

  • Anne Maria Weems (Book Cover) 2017
    Anne Maria Weems (Book Cover) 2017

    The Book Cover shows the image of young Anne Maria Weems (1865) who dressed as a man to escape her slave captors (Rockville,MD) The poem is in collaboration with a poet, Stephen Pohl). The text is stitched on satin fabric with a printed image of the young girl. Size 12"Hx30"Wx0.5"D

  • Ann  Maria Weems (Back Cover)
    Ann Maria Weems (Back Cover)

    Rewards were advertised in The Sentinel, the newspaper that was circulated around Rockville, Washington D.C. and the surrounding areas at this time. The ad in this image is generated on the sewing machine. The work is created on handmade paper using photography, stitch and collage. Size 12"Hx30"Wx0.5"D

  • Unchained Yet Not Free 2018
    Unchained Yet Not Free 2018

    The image refers to the History of Slavery in London -17th-18th Century. The image of a slave girl with text that was found at the Museum of the Docklands in E.London. The work is printed, stitched including the text on linen fabric. Size 12"Hx12"Wx0.1"D

  • Child Bride AD 2001
    Child Bride AD 2001

    Many Ads are published in some parts of the world for young brides. This image is that of a young girl 12 years of age. The work is created on Indian Saree material and layered with hand and machine embroidery. Also included is an image of the young girl. Size: 3ftHx2ftWx1"D

  • Madame X -1990
    Madame X -1990

    The work is mixed media using mosaic, textiles and stitch.  During the 1930s -1945 the Japanese practiced sexual trafficking in Korea. It is only recently that the Japanese  apologized to the Korean Government for this tragic event that took place. This work addresses this issue. Size 36"Hx50"Wx1"D