Unidentified Remains
John Doe 80-1419
Applique, embroidery, and beadwork
16 1/4" X 17 1/2"
2013
This work is an investigation of an anonymous memorial. My subject is a police sketch of unidentified human remains found near Salem, Oregon in 1980, which I researched through a national registry. My design is made using computer generated graphics relating to grieving from social media. By translating this kitsch memorial into embroidery and appliqué, I attempt to broach the anonymity through devotional craft. In May 2025, this John Doe was publicly identified as Larry Eugene Parks, a 30-year old Vietnam War veteran whose last known location was believed to be Pensacola, Florida.