“Some of my struggle as an artist right now is bridging the gap between issues that make people feel uncomfortable and creating work that allows all of us to have an open conversation about these issues.” -- Cassie Arnold
Born and raised in Texas, artist Cassie Arnold may not have a typical accent of the Lone Star State. But she certainly embodies its outspoken spirit–especially through her signature “Mom Bras.” SLEEK spoke with her about the humorous, provocative pieces–and their backstory about her experiences with breastfeeding in public.
So, you created ‘mom bras’, which are knitted undergarments for literally all shapes and sizes of breasts. What came first, the idea to create bras for every woman’s body, or the message that every woman has the right to have every type of body?
Being a mom of three, I was very aware of nursing my children in public. I kept having to run to the bathroom to feed my child because I didn’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable. But by the time the third kid came around, I had this idea. I thought it would be really funny to knit a bra that looks like breasts while I nurse my child. Like, it was very humorous at first. I wanted to make people feel really uncomfortable. I went from being this very thoughtful person who is concerned about other people’s feelings to thinking: “I’m not going to nurse my baby in the bathroom, it’s just gross!”
Then it evolved and I realised there is power in these bras. I immediately saw the power of representing women. My end goal changed from comedy to the aim of representing women of all shapes and sizes. The media is not showing a real representation of what women’s bodies look like, especially those that have transformed throughout the years. At the same time, with censorship, it can happen that you’re able to post yourself wearing these bras, but if you post a picture of a woman breastfeeding the picture may get removed.
How do people in your immediate environment and on social media react to your work?
My background is highly conservative. Faith is still a huge part of my life, which usually shocks people when they see my work, even though the body has been a subject in art for hundreds of years, even in a religious context. My parents like to say: “We love her and we’re super supportive, but Cassie makes weird art!”
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If you’d like to read the full interview with Cassie Arnold, you can order the Courage Issue #69 of SLEEK HERE.