For a final project in Data Visualization with Textiles 2025, Sydney Gavela used a Rigid heddle loom to weave a visualization of data about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2 Spirit + individuals, also incorporating Machine Embroidery.
For my final project I was inspired by May 5th, which is National Day of Awareness and Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2 Spirit + individuals. According to the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, “Native women face murder rates more than ten times the national average. These disappearances and murders are often directly linked to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, sex trafficking, and longstanding harms impacting Indigenous communities.” As a white presenting latina of the Andean diaspora, I wanted to use my privilege to visually represent data of MMIWG2S+ for this final project. I specifically chose to visualize the names, tribal nations, and ages of seven MMIWG2S+: Emily Pike (San Carlos Apache) age 14, Tanya Nepinak (Pine Creek) age 31, Ashlee Shingoose (Oji-Cree) age 30, Miranda Belle (Metis) age 31, Noelle O’Soup (Nehiyaw) age 14, Tatyanna Harrison (Metis) age 20, Michelle Elbow Shield (Sioux) age 26.
I embroidered the names and tribal nations in red thread as red is often symbolized as a red handprint to represent the silencing and oppression of MMIWG2S+. It was important for their names and tribes to also visually stand out against the more neutral woven background.
I used a method similar to my midterm quipu design in which I visualized age using a system of beads and knots. For this final project, one red bead equals 10 years and each knot symbolizes one year. I chose to use black string so that the red beads would pop. This effect also hides the knots, inviting the viewer to touch the string and methodically count the ages of each person. The intention behind this was to promote slow viewing, engagement, and mindfulness while interacting with the piece. Rather than simply viewing a statistic, touching is much more of an intimate interaction that I hope inspires awareness and an understanding of the humanity of those that have been lost. This is a detail that I am particularly proud of.
