AMERICANA;
A Common Thread
Born out of the belief that we, as Americans, must uncover the elements that connect us and reflect our shared identity through time, Americana: A Common Thread celebrates the thrill of western iconography, the sundance of the western skies and untamed frontiers, and the soul-diving sensation of grounding that one can experience while rooted in the western landscape.
In this body of work, Katharine masterfully employs a trifecta of captivating threadwork, skillful figurative painting, and a rich understanding of color theory. These elements combine to transport viewers into an embodied experience and playful exploration, inviting them to reflect on what it means to be of the West - both physically and symbolically.
Through her work, Katharine captures the enduring essence of the American West, offering a contemporary yet timeless perspective on a region that continues to inspire and define the American spirit.
This show is made possible by Edens and Union Market District. It will be on display at 1270 5th street NE Washington, D.C. through April 1st.
Pick your cowboy.
Pick your adventure.
My work intertwines the tactile and the symbolic, merging thread work and paintings to craft a visual language that speaks to the delicate balance between fragility and strength, reality and fantasy. Through the intricate weaving of fine, vivid thread around nails carefully hammered on canvas, I seek to evoke the push and pull of opposing forces, where the tension becomes the subject of contemplation.
At the heart of Americana, A Common Thread lies an exploration of the American experience—an inquiry into what it means to be American, particularly in these turbulent times. This search unfolds through the themes of freedom and fantasy, which pulse at the core of my work. The unbound and uncontained thread embodies the essence of freedom, while the nail—sharp, fixed, and immovable—creates a boundary, a restriction. Within this contrast, I delve into the paradoxes of the American dream: the yearning for limitless freedom, the wild raw natural world, tempered by the polished, formulated version portrayed in Hollywood.
The imagery of horses, cowboys, and the Wild West serves as a metaphorical landscape for the ideals and myths that have come to shape American identity. These symbols—woven together with both fundamental and imagined elements—reflect how we, as a society, pursue an idealized version of freedom—one that may never truly exist. The cowboy, for instance, is an icon of independence and power, yet his history is fraught with contradictions.
Ultimately, my work is a meditation on freedom itself—the delicate dance between its pursuit and its fantasy. I wonder if what we seek is not the reality of freedom, but the sensation of possibility. Each piece invites the viewer to explore their own understanding of freedom and to reflect on the threads that bind us—whether cultural, political, or personal. And in this inquiry, I ask: What is the common thread that connects us all?
