ARTISTS STATEMENT
Drawing inspiration from the Douce Apocalypse and the Trinity Apocalypse manuscripts, The Red Dragon Lurks in Front of the Woman Clothed with the Sun reimagines the 7-Headed Dragon’s arrival in the story of the Woman of Revelation 12. Both Anglo-Norman manuscripts overlook this moment of the story, allowing artistic freedom to explore her possible symbolism. The questions raised in Revelation about women feel as relevant today as they were in the 1970s with artists such as Mary Kelly and Margaret Atwood and, as Christine de Pizan’s writing exposes, as these ideas of womanhood were in Medieval Europe. While utilizing traditional embroidery techniques, this embroidered panel interprets the Anglo-Norman aesthetic influences through the gaze of a modern female artist. Lint collected from domestic responsibilities forms the padding under the rich gilt embroidery depicting the Woman. Eco-printed silks create the background foliage behind the Red Dragon, connecting today’s landscape with the landscapes of the past. So, is the Woman’s story one of redemptive foreshadowing, or does she embody the expectations imposed onto women by fundamentalist interpretations of Biblical femineity, stripping women of any individual identity separate from her familial structure and closest male association? What is the role of grace in redemption when comparing the stark juxtaposition of the feminine stereotypes personifying good and evil through the Woman and the Whore of Babylon? Is the Woman representative of Christ’s love or murmuring to women their “path to salvation” through maternal expectations?
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Katherine Diuguid is a studio artist specializing in hand embroidery, dressmaking, and textiles. Her current work investigates color theory and color interactions within stitching, especially goldwork embroidery. She has taught embroidery and textile workshops both nationally and internationally. She held a tenure-track position at North Carolina State University (2012-2017) until deciding to focus fully on her studio embroidery. She has been awarded artist residencies at the North Carolina Museum of Art (Fall 2017), Penland School of Crafts (Winter 2018, Winter 2019, and Winter 2025), and Chateau Orquevaux (in France, Spring 2022). Additionally, Katherine has had the opportunity to work on special projects for Durham Cathedral (UK), stitching Panel 10 of the new Open Treasures Cope, and for the Art Institute of Chicago, stitching a sampler based on their beautiful Burgo de Osma Altarpiece.
© Katherine Diuguid