Cloth Napkins

These napkins are all unique. They were created with scrap material — half to quarter yards, and odd bits of cotton and linen saved in my closet. From the remnants of past projects rectangular pieces were assembled.

A person was approached and asked to cut out any shape desired, for barder. Some people instantly began to cut with the scissors I provided, while others used chalk to lay out their design, meticulously planning it. Still others asked to take the fabric home, so they could think about it. Recognizable shapes were made, as well as abstract ones: one person responded to the color for her design; another traced the shadow his hat made. They are all different shapes and sizes. These pieces were then sewn together and finished by me. A photograph of each person is incorporated into the tag, along with their name.

My approach is about two levels of creative expression: the creative labor working to produce a product and the creative labor that manages it. The result is to challenge the uniformity of an existing product by giving those two levels their own space for expression: one individual and, when assembled together, a collective.

Design by Sara Dierck
www.saradierck.com