CWU senior artist uses bread tags to explore her identity as a woman

How can a bread tag mean anything other than being an item that keeps bread fresh?

As part of Emily Jones' senior exhibition next week, the graduating CWU Bachelor of Fine Arts student will be displaying her work, which uses the bread tag to investigate identity and the inherently cyclical, malleable, and fragile nature of being a woman. Jones' exhibition, titled "Cyclical Femininity," utilizes photography, sculpture, and ceramics to explore what the bread tag symbolizes in her own life.

"I use the bread tag as an easily recognizable symbol for work that is done in the kitchen," she said. "It becomes a placeholder for traditional female gender roles, allowing me to condense a large topic into something easily recognizable."

The exhibit will open in Gallery 231 in Randall Hall on Monday, May 8. A closing reception for Cyclical Femininity will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday, May 12. Gallery 231 hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

The instinct to collect things has always been a part of Jones' life, which became amplified as she started making art. As she prepares to graduate, she shares her experiences with religion, trauma responses, and ideas around gender and identity.

"To me, Cyclical Femininity is about personal growth and change in different directions, in my identity and as a woman, but also stays appreciative of my core," she said.

To learn more about the exhibit, email emily.e.jones084@gmail.com. See more of Jones' work on Instagram at @everyday.emails.