Rest Cure:

S. Weir Mitchell developed the rest cure in the late 1800’s essentially to discipline nervous women whose illness became a means of seemingly avoiding household duties. It consisted of isolation to a room for months at a time, forbidden of intellectual stimulation and force-fed with the goal of passing into a state of placid obedience. Health was restored when women eagerly wanted to resume their role as a dutiful wife and home dweller before otherwise descending into madness. Here this concept is depicted through hand quilted pieces to represent the time sequestered in bed, each with up-cycled fabric elements, appliqué and embroidery. The laborious process is ironically cathartic, nonetheless they are named after euphemisms for “crazy”.