Ripping Stitches

Cassie Doyon

Ripping Stitches is a personal reaction to immigrant children taken from their parents and placed into ICE custody. A melting pot has long represented the diverse population of our country. In recent years, the metaphor has evolved into that of a patchwork quilt. America’s diversity is a precious resource, a rich cultural tapestry. With our recent toxic political climate, America—a nation of immigrants—is literally coming apart at the seams. Hatred and racism divide us, while lies and gaslighting have infected our collective consciousness. We cannot forget the barbarism of our past, reminders such as Ripping Stitches are needed in order not to repeat them.

Biography

Cassie Doyon holds a master’s degree in art education from Tufts University/School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and has worked as an artist and art educator in the Merrimack Valley for the past 30 years. Her artwork has won several awards and has been exhibited throughout New England.

I work in mixed media with a strong focus on mosaics. I use a wide variety of materials in my work, including natural, foraged and found items such as sea glass, bone, driftwood and stone.  My use of color is widely variable, from muted and earth toned to bright and psychedelic hues. Where mosaic work tends to be structured and planned, I try to incorporate spontaneity and serendipity within my pieces. I am particularly focused on surface design and pushing the boundaries of sculpture with unconventional and re-purposed materials.

Much of my artwork is abstract in style and form, reflecting my lifelong interest in tribal art and artifacts from around the world. I was born and raised in a seaside town, and the ocean has been a powerful, repetitive theme through most every piece of art I have made. In addition, I like to create “color and texture memories” of places I’ve visited over the years, and to explore macro and micro-environments in nature.