Cox, DianePowers, AngusGause, Sydni2019-10-302019-10-302018-05http://hdl.handle.net/10829/23463Thesis completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Fine Arts degree in the School of Art and Design at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Alfred, NY.My work acts like the proud quilted banners pinned to the walls of a Southern Baptist church that read "King of Kings" and "Lord of Lords." I begin by investigating the role of material and the psychological undertones that follow, as objects like these are situated in specific sociopolitical contexts. Similar to the iconic chrome decal of a sexualized woman that has been stuck to the back of a pick-up truck, I find these religious textual devices to allude to a particular type of identity, one that is commonly seen in the South where sexist oppression of women is an active reality. My sculptural work manifests similar physical properties to the items above, yet negates the original intention, often times speaking directly to the viewer and their conditioned gender constructs. My aim here is to challenge this form of conditioning, especially between text and iconography. It is within this critical way of manipulating recognizable objects that I ask my work to be active and vocal while reaching an empathetic conclusion.26 pagesen-USThe author has granted Alfred University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other rights.MFA thesisSculptureTextile artQuiltingWoodWritingDeer antlersSculpture-Dimensional StudiesThesis