USOR "United States of Rape" is a series of hand-embroidered flags representing each state and its laws on Rape and Sexual Assault. The laws are taken out of context, mixed up, and sewn on top of the pixelated version of the state flag. Currently, every state in the United States has varying laws for rape, sexual assault, and sexual violence. Some laws are comprehensive, while others are just three sentences. Some states define rape as only possible between a man and a woman, while others break down their laws into multiple degrees and even define sexual consent. As a survivor of sexual assault and intimate partner violence, I found it shocking that laws on sexual assault and rape can be vastly different depending on the state. If a victim of sexual violence wanted to seek justice through the legal system, they might not even know how their state defines the criminal act. This project is ongoing, and I plan to work on it until I have completed all 50 states and the multiple territories over which the United States has jurisdiction. This series has been not just a healing process for me but also a form of advocacy for victims of sexual violence like myself.
Maryland; The Free State; The Old Line State. Hand embroidery, felt, poetry. 2020. 17.5” x 19.5”
Alabama; The Cotton State; The Yellowhammer State; The Heart of Dixie. Hand embroidery, felt, poetry. 2020. 15'“ x 21.5”
Alaska; The Last Frontier. Hand embroidery, felt, poetry. 2020. 23” x 32”
Arizona; The Grand Canyon State; The Copper State. Hand embroidery, felt, poetry. 2022. 20.5” X 30.5”.
Arkansas; The Land of Opportunity; The Natural State. Hand embroidery, felt, poetry. 2021. 15” x 23.5”.
California; The Golden State. Hand embroidery, felt, poetry. 2023. 18.5” x 30.5”.
Colorado; The Centennial State. Hand embroidery, felt, poetry. 2023. 14.5” x 20.75”.
Connecticut; The Constitution State; The Nutmeg State; The Provisions State; The Land of Steady Habits. Hand embroidery, felt, poetry. 2024. 15.5” x 22”.
Delaware; The Blue Hen State; The Diamond State; The First State; The Small Wonder State. Hand embroidery, felt, poetry. 2023. 12” x 17.5”.
Florida; The Sunshine State; The Alligator State; The Peninsula State. Hand embroidery, felt, poetry. 2024. 15.5” x 23”.