Democracy In Action —
Celebrating The Women Of The 116th Congress
My recently completed textile project is both an homage and a call to arms that celebrates the historic number of 131 brave and powerful women currently serving in the 116th Congress. These women, whatever their political views and personal values, have the courage to be seen, the courage to be heard, the courage to try to make a difference.
The art is a collection of portraits designed as prayer flags that celebrate and honor each congresswoman, their values, and the multitude of issues they are contending with. Each portrait uses the official congressional photograph of each elected congresswoman. Each photograph was used to produce a stencil which was then transfixed to a silk organza fabric and layered with other hand-dyed fabrics and stitched and embellished with multicolor threads, buttons, and beads. The textile portraits are each approximately 16” x 18” and altogether fill wall space of about 300 square feet.
U.S. Senate – 25 (17D, 8R)
U.S. House of Representatives – 102 (89D, 13R), plus 4 (2D, 2R) Delegates
Martha Roby (R) AL
Terri Sewell (D) AL
Amata Radewagen (R) AS
Ann Kirkpatrick (D) AZ
Debbie Lesko (R) AZ
Jackie Speier (D) CA
Doris Matsui (D) CA
Anna Eshoo (D) CA
Nancy Pelosi (D) CA
Zoe Lofgren (D) CA
Barbara Lee (D) CA
Katherine Hill (D) CA
Julia Brownley (D) CA
Karen Bass (D) CA
Judy Chu (D) CA
Linda Sanchez (D) CA
Grace Napolitan (D) CA
Lucille Roybal-Allard (D) CA
Norma Torres (D) CA
Maxine Waters (D) CA
Nanette Barragan CA
Rosa DeLauro CT
Katherine Porter CA
Jahana Hayes CT
Susan Davis CA
Eleanor Holmes Norton DC
Diana DeGette CO
Lisa Blunt-Rochester DE
Stephanie Murphy FL
Debbie Wasserman-Schultz FL
Val Demings FL
Frederica Wilson FL
Kathy Castor FL
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell F
Lois Frankel FL
Donna Shalala FL
Lucy McBath GA
Jan Schakowsky IL
Tulsi Gabbard HI
Robin Kelly IL
Abby Finkenauer IA
Lauren Underwood IL
Cindy Axne IA
Cheri Bustos IL
Jackie Walorski IN
Chellie Pingree ME
Susan Brooks IN
Katherine Clark MA
Sharice Davids KS
Ayanna Pressley MA
Lori Trahan MA
Elissa Slotkin MI
Haley Stevens MI
Angie Craig MN
Debbie Dingell MI
Betty McCollum MN
Rashida Tlaib MI
Ilhan Omar MN
Brenda Lawrence MI
Ann Wagner MO
Vicky Hartzler MO
Mikie Sherrill NJ
Virginia Foxx NC
Bonnie Watson-Coleman NJ
Alma Adams NC
Debra Haaland NM
Ann McLane Kuster NH
Xochitl Torres Small NM
Dina Titus NV
Nydia Velazquez NY
Susie Lee NV
Yvette Clarke NY
Kathleen Rice NY
Carolyn Maloney NY
Grace Meng NY
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez NY
Nita Lowey NY
Marcia Fudge OH
Elise Stefanik NY
Kendra Horn OK
Joyce Beatty OH
Suzanne Bonamici OR
Marcy Kaptur OH
Madeleine Dean PA
Mary Gay Scanlon PA
Elizabeth Pannill-Fletcher TX
Chrissy Houlahan PA
Kay Granger TX
Susan Wild PA
Veronica Escobar TX
Jenniffer Gonzalez PR
Sheila Jackson Lee TX
Sylvia Garcia TX
Jennifer Wexton VA
Eddie Bernice Johnson TX
Stacey Plaskett VI
Elaine Luria VA
Suzan DelBene WA
Abigail Spanberger VA
Jaime Herrera Beutler WA
Catherine McMorris Rodgers WA
Carol Miller WV
Pramila Jayapal WA
Liz Cheney WY
Kim Schrier WA
Gwen Moore WI