The portraits in Household Essentials present tools that we use to perform our daily cleaning routines. These pieces are a combination of etching, silkscreen, and hand embossing. While the use of these laborious techniques parallels the many steps and work involved in cleaning routines, the overall effortless quality of the images sharply contrasts them. In our society, the labor involved in cleaning is rarely acknowledged, much less valued. Rather, maintaining the “perfect” home is portrayed as being easy, simple, and fast.

Softground etching, latex wall-paint silkscreen, hand embossing

30x23 in.

Softground etching, latex wall-paint silkscreen, hand embossing

30x23 in.

Softground etching, latex wall-paint silkscreen, hand embossing

30x23 in.

Softground etching, latex wall-paint silkscreen, hand embossing

36x16 in.

Softground etching, latex wall-paint silkscreen, hand embossing

36x16 in.

Softground etching, latex wall-paint silkscreen, hand embossing

28x35 in.

Softground etching, latex wall-paint silkscreen, hand embossing

28x35 in.

Softground etching, latex wall-paint silkscreen, hand embossing

28x35 in.

Softground etching, latex wall-paint silkscreen, hand embossing

26x24 in.

Softground etching, latex wall-paint silkscreen, hand embossing

26x24 in.