kiarareagan

[kiarareagan]

I'm grateful to be showing work at Project Hustle, a project space in Boston's South End that is dedicating to supporting emerging artists. Dead Body: A Quilt Show is my first time showing solo work outside of SMFA, and it could not have happened without the help of Jacob Namgung and Brooke Stuart especially, who organizes the space and has been my teacher and mentor for many years.

[kiarareagan]

As part of a long tradition of bastardizing Sunbonnet Sue, I've made five pillows of her:

1 "Sunbonnet Sue gets High to Cope" 2 "Sunbonnet Sue gets her Vaccines" 3 "Sunbonnet Sue gets a Crude, Illegal Abortion" 4 "Sunbonnet Sue Touches Grass" 5 "Sunbonnet Sue Moves to Canada"

Sunbonnet Sue patterns originated in the late 1800s and images of her were popular by 1930. She was often seen picking flowers or hanging out with Overall Sam. In one of my favorite quilts, "The Sun Sets of Sunbonnet Sue", by the Seamsters' Union (Local 500) of Lawrence Kansas, Sue get killed in 20 different, gruesome ways.

These are all 14x14in hand-appliqued pillowcases, quilted with a free motion embroidery foot.

[kiarareagan]

"Feet Quilt", 2024, 63x63in, quilt from secondhand fabrics

[kiarareagan]

"Log Cabin with Daddy Long Legs", 2024, 12x12x4in, quilted pillowcase from secondhand fabrics

[kiarareagan]

"Red and Yellow", 2024, 14x17in, quilted pillowcase from secondhand fabrics

[kiarareagan]

"HOT HOT HOT", 2024, 16.5x14in, quilted pillowcase from secondhand fabrics

[kiarareagan]

Installation shots of "Water Lilies" from the Boston Center for the Arts 27th Drawing Show--Yuska: Uncoil, curated by Erin Genia. Photos by Melissa Blackall.

[kiarareagan]

"Star Pillow", 2024, 15x15in, quilted pillowcase from secondhand fabrics

[kiarareagan]

"Canoeing", 2024, 73x63in, quilt from secondhand fabrics

This quilt is inspired by a memory of canoeing at night in the lake I grew up at. The stars are much clearer there than in Boston, and the Milky Way was bright enough to reflect in the water. My mom gave me the sparkly black fabric, which she got from her mom, who had intended to use it to make a dress for one of her daughters.

[kiarareagan]

Water Lilies, 2024, 81x62in, quilt from secondhand fabrics

This quilt was on view at the Mills Gallery at the Boston Center for the Arts as part of the 27th annual Drawing Show, curated by Erin Genia and titled "Yušká: Uncoil".

[kiarareagan]

A quilt for Max and I when we moved in together, 2023

It has plants and animals and our zodiac signs. This is a coverlet, meaning it has no batting in the center. The top and the backing are quilted together and it is cool enough to keep on our bed when the other blankets get put away for the summer.

[kiarareagan]

Big Titties, 2023, 76x69in, quilt made from secondhand fabrics

[kiarareagan]

Legs and Eyes, 2022, 106x64in, quilt made from secondhand fabrics