CASSIE ARNOLD

        Cassie Arnold's knitted artwork effectively communicates profound and charged themes by blending elements of bras and breasts. She subtly encompasses concepts related to femininity, feminism, motherhood, eroticism, and fertility. Through the medium of knitting, the artist skillfully captures the image of sagging breasts, evoking a poignant sense of breasts depleted of vitality and provoking reflection on what once was.

        Breasts serve as a vital link connecting a baby to its origin within a mother's body, signifying a woman's initial journey into motherhood while sometimes posing unexpected challenges. The Mom Bra series, fluctuates between the realms of what's internal and external, with breasts outside the bra mirroring the transition of a baby's from inside the mother's body to the outside world.

        Cassie fittingly names this series "Mom Bra."  The bra is a garment that culturally navigates between liberation and restriction. The first bra can be traced back to ancient Greece, where women used wool or linen bands to support their breasts. Corsets appeared around 1500 and became obligatory for middle- and upper-class women in Western society. However, corsets were swiftly criticized for causing health issues and restricting women physically and symbolically.

        The bra is an undergarment designed to provide support and often shape the breasts. In this series, bras are used to depict breasts as they naturally are, without any embellishment or alteration.

        In our visually-oriented culture, where hierarchies are often judged based on appearances, Cassie's Mom Bra series serves as a powerful rejection of the unrealistic portrayal of the female form prevalent in today's media. Instead, Mom Bras celebrate and honor the diverse and unique qualities inherent in all women, regardless of their size, shape, or skin color.