Artist Cat Mazza recently held a discussion of her solo exhibition, “Cat Mazza: Network,” at the Northeastern Center for Media and Design in Boston. The exhibition, which debuted in November 2024, features three major pieces that combine machine knitting technologies with social commentary.
One central work in the exhibition is “Labor Sister Sampler,” a 10-foot-long knitted map of the United States that depicts key labor and feminist histories. This piece, commissioned by the 2016 Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, is paired with textual artifacts to invite visitors to engage with the exhibit’s historical narratives.
Mazza’s use of “KnitPro” technologies allows her to scan antique artifacts and convert them into stitchable patterns, creating an interactive timeline online that further connects these historical moments. The exhibition also delves into psychiatry and mental health with the piece “By & By: With Psychedelic Features,” which explores psychiatric therapeutic communities and Mazza’s personal experiences with bipolar disorder.
The exhibition also features a series of knitted balaclavas, each showcasing patterns derived from the writings of individuals who revolutionized psychiatric care. Mazza translated these writings into Morse code and knitted visualizations in color-coordinated patterns, highlighting the historical and research-rich generation of women’s craftsmanship.
Curator Amy Halliday praised Mazza’s technical virtuosity and the depth of concept in her works, emphasizing the connection between labor and social change in the exhibition. Visitors are encouraged to immerse themselves in the exhibition, which will be on view at Northeastern’s Gallery 360 until mid-April.
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