Old Clothes: Works of Comfort

Tassels

recycled clothing Installation

For the month of January, Speck Gallery will be exhibiting Philip Campbell’s large-scale quilts. These works are what Campbell calls socially conscious works of comfort. These double-sided quilts span more than 10 feet and are made of thrifted clothing.

“An overarching theme in my work is the use of traditional craft material and symbolism to make my objects feel safe and familiar as I explore fear and vulnerability in the contemporary world.

Old clothes are vessels of memories, and quilts represent home, comfort, memories, and tradition," says Campbell. 

Left: David Foster Wallace, recycled clothing and cotton fabric, 75 x 70 inches

Center: #101 (Jeans), recycled clothing, 74 x 93 inches

Right: #102 (Pockets), recycled clothing and bed sheet, 84 x 112 inches

Campbell uses the process of deconstruction and reconstruction extensively in his process. Beginning with finding and deconstructing clothing (functional art), Campbell then engages with the tradition of quilt-making, which he finds compelling because of its foundation of necessity and reusing fabrics to make something new and useful. 

“I believe that the clothing vessels come with the magic of the experience, strength, and hope of the person who previously wore them.” 

Much of Campbell’s work is centered around sobriety and recovery. Pieces of the quilts in this exhibit were once part of a larger project that Campbell did for the Indiana State Museum’s exhibit titled “FIX: Hope and Heartbreak In the Opioid Crisis.” This was an interactive blanket fort installation that was a structure of comfort to represent the feeling of possibility found in childhood blank forts and the pink cloud period of sobriety. 

Campbell loves exploring new materials and has even introduced stab-proof kevlar and 1,600 Egyptian thread count cotton to incorporate into his work. Campbell explains his inspiration to work with these materials: “There are people who have severe post-traumatic stress disorder that will not stay in a facility with closed doors. I created a series of prototypes for people who prefer to sleep outside. These are soft on one side and allow people to be protected from animal and knife attacks on the other side.”

Left: #105 (Big), recycled clothing, 72 x 153 inches

Center: #106 (New), recycled clothing, 120 x 120 inches

Right: #104 (Cuffs and collars), recycled clothing, 147 x 93 inches

All of the quilts exhibited in this show are reconstructions of Campbell’s materials that contain stories of comfort.

The show can be viewed anytime during the months of January in the Speck Gallery during Gallery Hours: Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. The works can also be viewed and purchased on our online gallery through February.