Call for Participants: Patching Life
For many recently, life has felt torn, threadbare, and stained. Marred by personal struggles and global sorrows, things seem to be coming apart at the seams.
In a simple, daily way, I see this mirrored in my closet. Clothes that were once my favorite are now full of holes, stained beyond the help of a Tide stick, and growing thin. Is this because I have held onto these articles of clothing for too long? Or because I didn't show them enough care when they were on frequent rotation.
I’m sure my closet isn’t the only one in this state. I know that at least some of my loved ones have sweaters and pants buried in a drawer or a closet corner, too precious to get rid of, yet too damaged to wear regularly.
My newest project, Patching Life, draws inspiration from environmental care and applies it to our material belongings. For this project, I am printing a series of 8 inch x 8 inch patches to be sewn onto damaged clothing. Each patch depicts a different plant species that is important to the environmental health of my current home, Northern Virginia. Some patches are also accompanied by embroidered embellishments depicting local pollinator species.
-
The project has started with the clothing in my own home, and is now expanding to include the clothing of loved ones, friends, and community members (both local and extended). As I prepare for my solo exhibition at VisArts in Rockville, MD next month, I’d love to have as many of my community members represented in this project as possible. That includes you!
-
In order to have your article of clothing included in the exhibition, please
Complete this form: https://forms.gle/fS9MvuRTkbonaMz17
Mail your ONE clean article of clothing to the address provided to you. (You will receive the address via email after you complete the form). All clothing should be shipped by Friday, January 9.
Please keep in mind that I will only be able to mend 10-15 articles of clothing during this timeframe, and may close the call early if the limit is met.
-
Friday, January 9, 2026: Shipping deadline for all articles of clothing.
Friday, January 30, 2026: Solo show at VisArts in Rockville, MD opens. All mended clothing will be included in the exhibition.
Sunday, March 16, 2026: Exhibition closes.
Friday, March 20, 2026: All clothing returned to owners.*
*You have the option of retaining ownership of your clothing or donating your clothing to the project, to travel onwards to its next location!
-
I welcome all your questions! Please email me at hlmcmordie@gmail.com to discuss this project further.
Pictured Above: A sampling of the plant species depicted on the patches (American Bellflower, Tall Fescue, Flowering Dogwood, Common Fleabane)