WRONG SIDE, RIGHT SIDE, EXTERNAL/INTERNAL SIDE, FEMALE, BINDING, TIED, RESTRICTED, PRETTY, UGLY, WOMAN, GIRLY

The above were all themes and thoughts that drove the creation of these works. I had been working on elaborate hand stitched pieces and was noticing how beautiful the backs of the pieces were. They were loose and unexpected. So, I painted the corsets on fabric then turned them over & stitched on the unpainted side. After completing the corsets I flipped the pieces over and hand stitched poems by Kerri Shadid. What most would call the pretty finished side of the stitching is hidden in these works.

“Loose Ends” Acrylic with Hand and Machine Embroidery on Fabric” 24” x 20” 2014 Poem by Kerri Shadid Adam and Eve rock-paper-scissored for who Got to be more free and Adam won. Men hold their wildness like a trophy and Wear their loose ends like a shield. Women have neatly tied off each thread For generations, but that doesn’t mean She wouldn’t rather cut the knots that bind Wouldn’t rather walk into the forest with him, For she is no more a domesticated Creature than he. Run with him, drink outside like an elixir— Then come home together When the cold wind whispers that the Time for roaming is done. — **“Loose Ends”**
Acrylic with Hand and Machine Embroidery on Fabric”
24” x 20”
2014
**Poem by Kerri Shadid**
Adam and Eve rock-paper-scissored for who
Got to be more free and Adam won.
Men hold their wildness like a trophy and
Wear their loose ends like a shield.
Women have neatly tied off each thread
For generations, but that doesn’t mean
She wouldn’t rather cut the knots that bind
Wouldn’t rather walk into the forest with him,
For she is no more a domesticated
Creature than he.
Run with him, drink outside like an elixir—
Then come home together
When the cold wind whispers that the
Time for roaming is done.

“Inside Out” Acrylic with Hand and Machine Embroidery on Fabric” 24” x 20” 2014 Poem by Kerri Shadid The task of always facing the world with one’s meticulously-composed-image-side-out is exhausting and unnatural. Turning inside-out is infinitely preferable. For one, it airs out the soul, which tends to grow Stale when carefully sealed. And if we all Walked around with our frayed edges showing, Societal disappointment would undoubtedly slow. For we always compare our reverse side to the front side of others, leading us to assume We are less well-put-together than the Other well-turned-out models. — **“Inside Out”**
Acrylic with Hand and Machine Embroidery on Fabric”
24” x 20”
2014
**Poem by Kerri Shadid**
The task of always facing the world with one’s
meticulously-composed-image-side-out
is exhausting and unnatural.
Turning inside-out is infinitely preferable.
For one, it airs out the soul, which tends to grow
Stale when carefully sealed. And if we all
Walked around with our frayed edges showing,
Societal disappointment would undoubtedly slow.
For we always compare our reverse side to
the front side of others, leading us to assume
We are less well-put-together than the
Other well-turned-out models.

“Cutting The Thread” Acrylic with Hand and Machine Embroidery on Fabric” 24” x 20” 2014 Poem by Kerri Shadid Tightly I tied you to me, thread dug in deep, Cutting off circulation, fingers Turning white from lack of oxygen. Not being able to breathe felt Normal, felt familiar, I learned to view Gasping as a comfort. I kept my scissors sheathed, Never thought to cut myself free. I assumed my threads were me and severing them would Make me bleed. But once I had no blood left My caution too ran out and so I took my Scissors and I sliced. The thread unraveled and I Felt the pricking of my body waking up from being Asleep, felt the air breeze through my lungs, heard My muscles plead with me to let them be strong. — **“Cutting The Thread”**
Acrylic with Hand and Machine Embroidery on Fabric”
24” x 20”
2014
**Poem by Kerri Shadid**
Tightly I tied you to me, thread dug in deep,
Cutting off circulation, fingers
Turning white from lack of oxygen.
Not being able to breathe felt
Normal, felt familiar, I learned to view
Gasping as a comfort. I kept my scissors sheathed,
Never thought to cut myself free.
I assumed my threads were me and severing them would
Make me bleed. But once I had no blood left
My caution too ran out and so I took my
Scissors and I sliced. The thread unraveled and I
Felt the pricking of my body waking up from being
Asleep, felt the air breeze through my lungs, heard
My muscles plead with me to let them be strong.

“Stretched Too Thin” Acrylic with Hand and Machine Embroidery on Fabric” 24” x 20” 2014 Poem by Kerri Shadid I read that men have never had To learn the art of relationships, For women rush in to fill the void of Silence and dropped responsibilities. That is her role, to stretch out thin— Keep one hand holding her son and a pan, While the other reaches out to her Distant man. But playing these parts breaks both Her and him apart. Intimacy requires Two-person assembly. Stitching together a life-long partnership Is a job that should be open to all, Regardless of gender or raising or conditioning— All lose when the strings of love are not strong. — **“Stretched Too Thin”**
Acrylic with Hand and Machine Embroidery on Fabric”
24” x 20”
2014
**Poem by Kerri Shadid**
I read that men have never had
To learn the art of relationships,
For women rush in to fill the void of
Silence and dropped responsibilities.
That is her role, to stretch out thin—
Keep one hand holding her son and a pan,
While the other reaches out to her
Distant man.
But playing these parts breaks both
Her and him apart. Intimacy requires
Two-person assembly.
Stitching together a life-long partnership
Is a job that should be open to all,
Regardless of gender or raising or conditioning—
All lose when the strings of love are not strong.