Pacita Abad (1946-2004) was born in the Philippines. During the Marcos regime, she left Manila intending to study law in Spain. Instead, she ended up in the USA.
below: “Old Dhaka” (Bangladesh) 1978, oil on canvas
Many of the artworks that were on display were large-scale hanging trapuntos, a form of quilted painting made of stitched and stuffed canvas.
below: The central piece in this image is “LA Liberty” 1992. Here Abad recasts Lady Liberty as an “International Lady of Color” as opposed to the very white, very European, statue that exists in New York City.
below: “If My Friends Could See Me Now”, An American Dream with all the trappings of a ‘typical’ middle class life.
below: “Subali” 1983. Acrylic, oil, gold cotton, batik cloth, sequins, rick rack ribbons on stitched and padded canvas.
below: Many of the fabric pieces had marine themes like this very big octopus in “My Fear of Night Diving” 1985. It is 130 x 170 inches (or 330 x 432 cm).
below: Details, striped braiding sewn on to make the seaweed
below: Some of the pieces were hung such that the stitches on the back were visible. Also interesting.
Regrettably, this exhibit closes today.
as I walk Toronto 