American Portraits: The Family Farm

Non-SAQA
Exhibition
Region

American Portraits: The Family Farm, fiber artist Patty Kennedy-Zafred’s solo exhibition, speaks to the rich history of American family farming and its rapid decline in modern time. 

Kennedy-Zafred aims to evoke memories and history by bringing unique stories to life through the use of fabric, dyes, silkscreens, and ink. The interpretation of her work is conceived through the lens of individual experiences, memories, or perspectives. Her quilts marry a lifelong fascination with photography, history, and stitch, often reflecting faces of pride and dignity, sometimes under challenging circumstances. 

The modern day agricultural industry has begun to eradicate individually owned family farms, hence the quilts and art books in the exhibition highlight the importance of family farms as an important element of American history that cannot be replaced and should not be forgotten. During the 1900s, almost half of the U.S. population worked on farms, whereas today that number has dropped to only 2% of the population. The images used and screen-printed on vintage feed sacks and hand dyed fabrics in Kennedy-Zafred’s American Portraits series were inspired by the Farm Security Administration Photograph Collection, held by the Library of Congress, and taken from 1937-1942.  “Being raised in Ohio, where we were surrounded by fields and small family farms, this Series is an homage to a lifestyle and time period that no longer exists,” states Kennedy-Zafred.

Patty Kennedy-Zafred - Heart of the Home (photo by Larry Berman)

More Info

 

 

Location
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Venue Info

Contemporary Craft BNY Mellon Satellite Gallery
500 Grant St. 
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
United States
412-261-7003