In 2024, Heidi Dauphin and Laura Spalding Best were paired up to create an installation for Artlink’s Annual Gala at the Phoenix Art Museum. The two initially were uncertain how their practices would mesh as Dauphin is a mixed media/ceramic artist while Best is best known for her found object paintings and murals. However, after their first meeting, they formed an instant connection and friendship. Their conversations lasted for hours, discussing their individual practices. Among the many commonalities between both of their work was their desires to collect objects whether it be personal everyday items or found objects. Each of

This exhibition considers how textiles build meaning through softness, layers, mark making, and time—honoring processes often coded as feminine while welcoming all makers and interpretations—honoring voices often hidden and silenced through the open expression of ideas. Through layering, construction, and stitch, these soft materials may be transformed to challenge hierarchies, elevate overlooked labor, and assert the quiet force of making as an act of presence and power. “This theme resonates with me on a personal level. Having a background in architecture and construction management, I struggle with the conflict between the perceived masculine world of architecture and my artwork. My career