The Fabric of Her
A Multi-Sensory Exploration of Identity
Artists:
Ana Everling
Joanna Arellano-Gonzalez
Installation Concept:
This installation is a multi-sensory exploration of the intricate duality of womanhood. Drawing on diverse mediums and techniques, the exhibition invites viewers into a deeply personal yet universal narrative about sacrifice, resilience, and celebrates the handmade.
Mediums used: cyanotypes on fabric, embroidery, vintage lace, old photographs, DIY decor and live sound: The space is transformed into a living, breathing environment with handmade decorative elements and live, improvised music that creates an immersive experience.
Coming in January 2027
Listen
About the Artists
Joanna Arellano-Gonzalez
Joanna Arellano-Gonzalez is a first-generation Mexican-American artist born and raised in Little Village, Chicago. She was raised in the arts and was taught embroidery by her paternal grandmother at age 7. Joanna has been embroidering for the past 28 years and has been beading for the past 18 years. Joanna uses embroidery and beading as a form of prayer and to energetically transmit the medicine of Mexican and indigenous culture, spirituality and struggle. She has shown her pieces at Comercio Popular, 18th Street Open Studios, Hairpin Arts Studio, the Honeycomb Network, and the Evanston Arts Center. In her large scale embroidery pieces, she utilizes an embroidery stitch used by the Otomí artists in Mexico.
Ana Everling
Ana Everling is a multidisciplinary artist from the Republic of Moldova, whose visual creations reflect her deep connection to music, storytelling, and cultural heritage. Known primarily as a musician, Ana’s visual art focuses on self-portraits, exploring themes of identity, memory, and emotion. Using innovative mediums like cyanotypes and layered techniques, her works offer a unique perspective that bridges her artistic disciplines and invites introspection.
The Fabric of Her: A Preview
Opening at Nighthawk on September 24
Join us at Nighthawk for an intimate preview of The Fabric of Her: A multi-sensory installation with cyanotype portraits on fabric, vintage lace, embroidery, and live sound. Before the full exhibition opens this January at the Epiphany Center for the Arts, we’re opening the doors to our community to experience this living environment as it takes shape. Come walk through the textures, listen, and share an evening with us.
September 24, 6 to 8 pm, 4744 N Kimball Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
A project supported by
