Research Symposium

BIO

Brynn is a second-year honors student from Trenton, Florida, double-majoring in English LMC and Humanities. Within her studies, she focuses on modern literature and the histories and philosophies of law. In her free time, she is active on campus with Her Campus FSU. Brynn hopes to attend law school to pursue a career in family law.

Stitches and Sparkles: Weaving Feminine Narratives through Traditional Sewing and Rhinestone Application

Abstract

Using what is now called the Ghana Must Go bag, Ghanaians migrated from Nigeria between 1969 and 1985. The bags became a cultural symbol of movement and migration, entering the art world and even reaching the controversial Louis Vuitton campaign, where they were sold as luxury items rather than necessities. My mentor, Amarachi Odimba, explores migration, domestic space, and memory through the transformation of these symbolic bags in the ENFOLD project, through bedazzled embellishments and sewing techniques. The embellishments would fall off during transport, and the portraits sewn on would crack when applied, making the process delicate. This experience allowed me to reflect on my family’s artistic endeavors in quilting, where sewing serves as a domestic, feminine practice of care and familial continuity. Quilting is similar to the application of rhinestones in the ENFOLD project, in that it relies on repetition, touch, and plenty of time. Results show how many cultures and family lines have roots in art forms that reflect their femininity. A lot of the art I focused on has a trace back to the artist’s ancestors. In "Everyday Use," Alice Walker draws on her ancestral connections to African quilting to shape her characters and plot. Further research needs to discover other connections found in art and family, rather than just fragility and femininity. In addition, creating more artworks in this context would further develop a person’s pride in their family lineage.

Keywords: art, Ghana Must Go bag, commodity, migration