Chandra Beadleston

My vessel of choice for my art is a paper bag because it is so much more versatile than a cup or vase. Paper bags, like the ones I bring home from the grocery store, can be used and reused for so many purposes. It is a great analogy for what my experience has been as a woman in today’s society, which is that a woman’s value is largely tied to what she does for others. Women, especially women of color, are expected to be multi-purpose and asked to adapt quickly. For both women and paper bags in American society, the more beautiful they are the more valuable they are considered and the more coveted they become. Bags can be filled with many other things. They can be torn down and used as wrapping. They can be flattened and stored away when you don’t want them to be seen or have no current use for them. I’m in the process of trying to unlearn this notion that my worth is tied to my tasks.
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