From the artist:

Vertebral​ is a quilt meant to heal. It possesses a spinal cord that runs straight down the center. The spinal cord translates our thoughts into actions. It is where movement manifests in the body. It is our foundation. Tendrils, much like roots, extend from this foundation to morph and grow as they spread out. This piece channels the generational strength we inherit from our families and documents how we grow to differ from our ancestors. As our parents face adversity they impart onto us both trauma and resilience.

Growing up in a heteronormative and patriarchal religious household that then transitioned into a queer household meant understanding queer traumas and learning
self-acceptance. As we heal from our parents’ traumas we grow to become individually stronger. Our vertebrae stand a little taller.

Vertebral gently wraps around the wearer so that the spine of the wearer will align with the spine of the quilt. The function of the piece is to imbue the wearer with the strength and confidence to be vulnerable with the people they love. It conducts healing through conversation and confrontation. The stitches that tie this piece together, albeit strong, are often chaotic and imperfect much like how the communication in relationships can be. This is the quilt I would like to sit under to have a conversation with my mom about healing our inter-generational queer traumas and acknowledging its effect on our relationship.