The Fabric of Freedom

Medium Description

Collage on Canvas: Acrylic, Watercolor Ink, Paper Mache

Artist Description

The Fabric of Freedom unifies the artist’s design not just as a collection of vintage symbols and images of Americana, but as a living legacy that is actively being watched over and preserved. The title is a beautifully layered phrase that speaks directly to how a society is built and sustained. As a mixed-media collage, it carries both a literal and a deeply symbolic meaning. On a physical level, flags are made of woven fabric which is a direct nod to the vintage flag background of this piece. If the viewer looks deeply, they will discover that this specific “fabric” is woven from many different pieces of American history and culture rather than just a single thread.

In a piece of cloth, individual threads are relatively weak on their own, however, when tightly woven together, they become incredibly strong and resilient. This piece of art shows strength through shared threads symbolically:  freedom isn’t just one concept or a single document; it is a complex web made up of words, traditions, symbols, actions and people. 

When you place the eagle over the top of this “fabric,” it frames the eagle as the protector of this intricate, delicate, yet enduring tapestry of history. It also tells the viewer that if you pull on any single thread—whether it is a song, a celebration, a tradition, or a promise—the whole structure and celebration of freedom is connected.