Ella Rae Steakley

The Threads of Texas, a reflective textile exploration, focuses on a personal connection to the unique interminglings of Austin, Texas culture. The nostalgia for the past, shared through stories, photographs, and personal experiences is juxtaposed with a new and removed perspective. This longing for the past mixed with a presence in modernity and progressive values are showcased through textile experimentations, with an emphasis on process. These explorations are based in woven materials, photography, print development, plant-based materials, and material manipulation. Topics touched upon range from family history, story telling, native materials, current events, and personal reflection. The mixing of these ideas creates a dynamic, layered, juxtaposed showcase representing the difficult relationship between home and one’s chosen home. Documented through the making process is the relatable experience of growth, development, and coming into one’s own.