Talia Bowles

Talia Bowles is a senior at Loyola University New Orleans pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Music Industry Studies with minors in Studio Art and Business Administration. She focuses on printmaking, painting, and textile sculpture as her preferred mediums. She typically communicates ideas concerning intersectional feminism through her work.

 


“Falling Apart” 
1ft x 3ft x 0.5ft
Window Screen project

 

 

“Nature in Motion”
Audubon park of New Orleans
Andy Goldsworthy project

 

 


“Beautiful Straight Jacket”
Textile project

 

 


“Modesty Gown”
7ft x 2ft x 2ft
Cotton fabric
Shelter as an identity project

 

 

Final Statement: Modesty Gown
I am going to explore the pressure that is put on women to cover their bodies for the sake of men. This is why a large portion of the inspiration for the piece comes from Elizabethan era clothing and how women’s bodies continue to be censored. The collar on this dress has layers to show the multitude of layers between viewer’s eyes and the model’s skin. The sleeves go beyond the hands to make the dress even less functional, along with the excess amount of fabric around the core of the dress that makes it quite difficult to walk. Although the fabric in the core of the dress is slightly transparent, there is still a lot of space to show no matter how a woman’s body is covered, it will be judged. Lastly, the color of the dress stays within a light natural color palette to refer to the “purity” and effortlessness of beauty that women feel pressured to maintain.

All of the fabric used has come from my mom’s storage of old fabric. All in all, I used a basic sewing machine, white thread, elastic, leftover fabric, and no measuring. I decided not to use a measuring tape because I wanted this piece of clothing to fit over a multitude of body shapes and sizes to provide inclusivity. 

 

Class of: 
2021
Talia