Blanket Stories: Continuum (Book I) (Primary Title)
Marie Watt, Seneca Nation, born 1967 (Artist)
Written words are often given primacy over spoken ones. By extension, it is generally the case that written history is considered absolute, while oral histories are considered subject to an individual’s imprecise memory. However, for most Indigenous people prior to European arrival, storytelling was the way in which history endured through time.
Marie Watt believes that art and language have the capacity to transport and carry the voices that are missing from American history and are still active today. In her Blanket Stories, she combines the significance of blankets to her family with a type of stream-of-conscience practice from communal sewing sessions. Her print from this series, Continuum (Book 1), is a weaving together of words to create the appearance of this important symbol of community. Watt says that “Blankets are markers for memories and stories, they can also be memorials . . . they are enduring records of people’s lives.”
Some object records are not complete and do not reflect VMFA's full and current knowledge. VMFA makes routine updates as records are reviewed and enhanced.