Medicinal Tapestry
Medicinal Tapestry, 2024. 10 feet in diameter. Relief Wood Block with Acrylic. Commissioned by the Washington State Arts Commission in collaboration with Washington State University—Spokane. This installation is located in the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine in Spokane, Washington.
About the Project 2021-2024
The artwork centers on the themes of health, healing, and wellness, exploring the intersection of Western biomedicine and ethnomedicine. Through a community-led workshop at Washington State University-Spokane, Spokane community members shared their personal experiences and perspectives on what health, healing, and wellness meant to them. These discussions informed the imagery in the piece, which incorporates elements representing both the science and technology-driven approaches of Western biomedicine and the natural remedies and cultural practices of non-Western health systems.
At the heart of the artwork is a healer, a medicine woman, holding a bowl filled with traditional roots, mushrooms, and other plants historically used for healing and wellness. Surrounding her is a symmetrical web of various plants, symbolizing the continuum of medicinal plants—from those commonly found in households to those utilized in contemporary biomedicine. The piece aims to bridge, connect, celebrate, honor, and respect diverse perspectives on health, healing, and wellness, acknowledging our deep connection to nature and the wisdom passed down through generations.
The installation consists of hand-carved birch panels painted with acrylic paints and mounted together to form a 10-foot diameter circle attached to a birch-plywood subframe. The panels are secured to the wall using a gravity bar cleat. The figure and plants are intricately carved using hand and electric tools, then colorfully painted. The uncarved negative space is painted a deep green, providing a striking contrast to the vibrant flowers. The primary materials used include 8-2ft x 5 ft x 1⁄2 inch Russian Birch plywood panels, acrylic gesso, acrylic paints, UV varnish, a 10 ft x 10 ft x 1 1⁄2 inch Birch plywood subframe, a 48-inch-wide curved cleat/gravity bar, sleeve anchors, wood glue, and wood screws. The overall dimensions are 10 ft x 10 ft x 3 inches, with an approximate weight of 300 lbs.
Christie Tirado sketching the image onto the substrate. Photo Courtesy of Alex Mikev.
Detail image of the carved surface. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Tirado tying her apron prior to painting. Photo courtesy of Baran Ataei.
Tirado carving out the substrate. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Tirado rolling on the gesso onto the surface of the substrate. Photo Courtesy of Teralyn Brown.
Detail shot of Tirado painting a hop. Photo Courtesy of Baran Ataei.
Tirado adding rolling on the surface layer onto the carved substrate. Photo courtesy of Alex Mikev.
Photo of the installation team and Tirado. Photo Courtesy of Kendra Kurtz.
Photo of Christie Tirado and Maestra Olga Palacios (model) in front of the final installation.
Photo courtesy of Alex Mikev.
Cozette Phillips and Tybre Newcomer assembling the frame for the installation. Photo courtesy of the artist.