Many people have experienced what it is like to go into a hospital waiting room, either for themselves or to accompany a friend or family member. While trying to pass the time by flipping through magazines and filling out forms, it is hard to not feel anxious and overwhelmed. Gresik's work is based off of her own experiences and explores the tedious nature of being in a waiting room.
She uses 'Whitework' which is a traditional type of embroidery that has been practiced throughout history to document and celebrate important events in people's lives. With white linen fabric and cotton thread, she re-creates the waiting room environment, focusing on items one gathers while staring at the nearby clock. Throwaway paper objects turn into heirlooms, documenting an important though tedium filled chapter of her life.
100 STITCHED INCHES OF WHITEWORK: AN EXPLORATION
Belfast Linen Fabric & Perle Cotton Thread
16.25 x 16.25 x 1.5 inches
2015
An embroidery sampler of 100 different types of stitches used in Whitework embroidery. This sampler was the first piece created for "The Long, Tedious Task of Waiting."
100 STITCHED INCHES OF WHITEWORK: AN EXPLORATION (Detail 1)
Belfast Linen Fabric & Perle Cotton Thread
16.25 x 16.25 x 1.5 inches
2015
An embroidery sampler of 100 different types of stitches used in Whitework embroidery. This sampler was the first piece created for "The Long, Tedious Task of Waiting."
100 STITCHED INCHES OF WHITEWORK: AN EXPLORATION (Detail 2)
Belfast Linen Fabric & Perle Cotton Thread
16.25 x 16.25 x 1.5 inches
2015
An embroidery sampler of 100 different types of stitches used in Whitework embroidery. This sampler was the first piece created for "The Long, Tedious Task of Waiting."
I’VE WAITED 159 DAYS FOR THIS APPOINTMENT
Belfast Linen Fabric, Perle Cotton Thread & Turn-O-Matic Ticket Dispenser and Stand
53 inches Tall; Ticket Roll is 1 x 12 inches
2016
A whitework re-creation of a strand of numbered tickets. This piece was a response to the length of time waiting for an orthopedic surgical consultation, and the uneasy feelings Gresik was experiencing.
THE LONG TEDIOUS TASK OF WAITING (GRADEX 101)
Whitework embroidery; purchased items including furniture, Turn-O-Matic, clock and various medical paraphernalia.
Instillation Area is 5 x 5 feet
2016
The instillation of Gresik’s final undergraduate project, "The long, tedious task of waiting" for OCAD University's 101st Graduate Exhibition.
THE LONG, TEDIOUS TASK OF WAITING (COME UP TO MY ROOM)
Whitework embroidery; purchased items.
Room is Approximately 9 x 16 feet
2017
This instillation was a part of the Toronto Off-Site Design Show, Come Up To My Room, held at the Gladstone Hotel.
THE LONG, TEDIOUS TASK OF WAITING (COME UP TO MY ROOM) (Detail 1)
Whitework embroidery; purchased items.
Room is Approximately 9 x 16 feet
2017
This instillation was a part of the Toronto Off-Site Design Show, Come Up To My Room, held at the Gladstone Hotel.
THE LONG, TEDIOUS TASK OF WAITING (COME UP TO MY ROOM) (Detail 2)
Whitework embroidery; purchased items.
Room is Approximately 9 x 16 feet
2017
This instillation was a part of the Toronto Off-Site Design Show, Come Up To My Room, held at the Gladstone Hotel.
THE LONG, TEDIOUS TASK OF WAITING (COME UP TO MY ROOM) (Detail 3)
Whitework embroidery; purchased items.
Room is Approximately 9 x 16 feet
2017
This instillation was a part of the Toronto Off-Site Design Show, Come Up To My Room, held at the Gladstone Hotel.
FINALLY SOME ANSWERS (RHEUMATOLOGY WORK UP)
Belfast Linen Fabric, Perle Cotton Thread and Purchased Clipboard
8.5 x 11 inches
2016
A whitework re-creation of an Ontario bloodwork requisition form. The to-scale piece of paper is taken from a Rheumatology bloodwork panel Gresik had taken during their final semester of their undergraduate degree.
FINALLY SOME ANSWERS (RHEUMATOLOGY WORK UP); PLEASE HAVE YOUR HEALTH CARD READY; FASTING AND FEAR
Belfast Linen Fabric, Perle Cotton Thread and Purchased Clipboard
8.5 x 11 inches; 2 x 3.25 inches; 1 x 7 inches
2016
A whitework re-creation of an Ontario bloodwork requisition form, Ontario (OHIP) issued health card and plastic hospital bracelet. All pieces are to scale and were all drafted from items collected during various hospital and waiting room visits.
HOURS OF WASTED TIME
Various Linen and Linen Paper Yarn
Each Square is 4 x 4 inches
2015 – 2017
Small squares woven on a pin loom while waiting in various appointment and hospital waiting rooms. A methodical and meditative way of coping with the uncertainty of medical issues, and to actively pass and document the time. A selection of these squares were included in when work was installed.
HOURS OF WASTED TIME (Detail 1)
Various Linen and Linen Paper Yarn
Each Square is 4 x 4 inches
2015 – 2017
Small squares woven on a pin loom while waiting in various appointment and hospital waiting rooms. A methodical and meditative way of coping with the uncertainty of medical issues, and to actively pass and document the time. A selection of these squares were included in when work was installed.
HOURS OF WASTED TIME (Detail 2)
Various Linen and Linen Paper Yarn; Pin loom and needle.
Each Square is 4 x 4 inches
2015 – 2017
Small squares woven on a pin loom while waiting in various appointment and hospital waiting rooms. A methodical and meditative way of coping with the uncertainty of medical issues, and to actively pass and document the time. A selection of these squares were included in when work was installed.