Elan Schwartz - feel the embrace

2025 - ongoing

feel the embrace (working title) is an exploration of the multitude of ways we choose to, and can choose to, love ourselves and each other. It can be taking someone's glasses off for them when they fall asleep, helping someone practice for an interview, hugging in silence, having an honest conversation with yourself about what changes you need to make in your life. It's not always the easiest or most comfortable option in front of us, and it makes us more self aware and connected to each other because of it.

feel the embrace is an ongoing project, started during my Artist-in-Residence with the Contemporary Arts Center, in which I invite people to consider how they care for others or themselves. They then draw, embroider, or collage on prepared fabric patches. This is often done in conversation with others they came with, with me, and/or with other folks who are also participating. Once done, they decide if they want to take their creation with them or give it to me. I tell them either is okay and that it is my intention to create a wearable quilted jacket out of all of the patches given to me. Once the jacket is fabricated, I hope whoever wears it feels the love from everyone who put their time, energy, and care into their patches.

Created during Contemporary Arts Center Artist Residency - Spring 2025

Adrian

Alice

Anonymous

Breonna

Brittany

Carly

Carrie

Daniel

Derrick

Emily

Gerry H.

Gia'Lee

James

Josh

Kaliyah

KaMauri M.

Korinne

Kristin M.

Liv

Liv

Liv

Liv

Mara

Marcy

Maxx/Mya

Elan

Mitchell

Nathan

Nathan/Kaliyah

Nautika

Nora

Patricia

Penny

Randy

Rowe

Ryenne

Shawn

Sophia

Sri

Sydney

Whitney

Will

During my residency with the CAC, I would spend a couple hours every Wednesday at the Main Library and a couple hours every Saturday at the CAC for 2 months. I invited people to drop in from the busy, chaotic world outside and ground themselves in what's important to them. 62 pieces were created and generously trusted with me to add to this collaborative garment.
With each piece I look at, I am taken to the interactions I had with each person -- full of care, honesty, curiosity, joy, playfulness, sincerity, sometimes a little doubt, and always support.