embroidered linen on upholstery, 2010,
30” x 30” x 36"
Commission for the Ulysses S. Grant Collection Mississippi State University
The maps on the upholstery illustrate the military movements of General Ulysses S. Grant during the first Mississippi River campaign. The Vicksburg Campaign was a particularly grueling one that lasted years, but when Grant finally penetrated the city of Vicksburg, it changed the course of the war. The series of attempts to take the city were multi-layered and complex. The stitching on the chair is particularly dense, was very time intensive, and seemingly mirrored the battle itself. The research was gathered at the Ulysses S. Grant Library at Mississippi State University. This project was supported and commissioned through an Artist Incentive Grant provided by the College of Architecture, Art, and Design at Mississippi State University. The furniture resides in the Grant Collection Reading Room at Mississippi State University.
Photos by Caleb Crawford
