VOICES: The Florida Show - Gaby First Female, Memorial Presbyterian Church, West Palm Beach, FL (May 2024)

Fiber Installation - 100% acrylic yarn, repurposed natural fibers, reclaimed plastic shopping bags, hand-crocheted soft sculpture

Overview

Entangled is a mixed-media crochet installation inspired by the natural beauty, cultural history, and ecological complexities of Florida. Originally conceived as a crocheted interpretation of the Florida state flag, the project evolved into an elaborate tablescape featuring native wildlife, tropical flowers, citrus fruits, and repurposed materials.

At once whimsical and thought provoking, the installation celebrates the richness of Florida's landscape while drawing attention to the impact of plastic pollution on its marine life. 

Concept & Inspiration

Entangled began with a simple invitation to crochet a Florida state flag for VOICES: The Florida Show, an exhibition exploring Florida's cultural identity, history, and changing environment. What started as a single piece quickly grew into something much larger as I began exploring the many elements that make Florida so distinctive.

Earlier that day, during a visit to the Boca Raton Historical Society and Museum, I had purchased The Pioneer Cook in Southeast Florida by Donald Walter Curl. Originally drawn to the book by my fascination with historical recipes, I found myself discovering unexpected details about the region's culinary traditions and agricultural history.

With the book fresh in mind, I began imagining how I could expand on these discoveries by creating more pieces and turning the art requested into an entire Florida themed installation. The crocheted flag became the backdrop for an elaborate celebration of Florida's natural abundance. From its citrus groves and tropical flowers to its coastal wildlife and iconic alligators.

Large sculptural vases adorned with crocheted lemons, oranges and key limes became focal points of the composition, overflowing with colorful arrangements of hibiscus, native flowers, and other tropical flora. Oversized seashells, a whimsical alligator inspired by a vintage crochet pattern, and a sea turtle made from repurposed yarn brought additional layers of texture, personality, and storytelling to the scene.

As the installation developed, I began experimenting with discarded plastic grocery bags, cutting them into narrow strips and crocheting them into an expansive, fishing net inspired table covering. The material was particularly fitting: ordinary plastic shopping bags, so familiar to everyday life in Florida, transformed into something that resembled a net pulled from the sea.

The netting also created an opportunity to introduce a quieter message within the colorful celebration. During an earlier visit to Loggerhead Marinelife Center, I had learned about the dangers plastic pollution poses to sea turtles, including their tendency to mistake the floating plastic bags for jellyfish. By positioning the crocheted sea turtle as though it had become entangled int the net, I created a moment of discovery within the larger installation.