Hand-Stitched Stories

Today, Cunningham stitches by hand, using vibrant threads on beautifully dyed, painted, and/or layered cloth and paper. Exploration is a key part of her studio practice. She loves the repetitive action of threading the needle, tying the knot, and starting that first stitch. It's a timeless process that connects her to her past.

One recurring theme in her work is the silhouette of a dress, whether an adult's or a child’s garment, each dress tells a story, while also concealing a thought or feeling.

Taking Georgia O’Keeffe’s words to heart, “Take time to look,” she found inspiration for her Texas Wildlife series in her backyard, capturing the beauty of insects, animals, and birds in cloth and stitch. This was total excitement for her.

Her candy series,” Suckered by Sweets,” was sparked by her childhood memories of Halloween in homemade costumes and the candies collected on Halloween.