Tribal, clean energy, diversity and pollution are just some of the hundred plus everyday words that have been deleted from government websites since the beginning of the new administration in 2025. According to the New York Times these words were removed to purge the federal government of “woke” ideology. While not officially banned, these words have also become flags on grants and federal contracts.

Words, phrases and expression ranged in subject matter from diversity, equity and inclusion to gender and climate science. Others targeted specific groups of people from Native American, minorities, transgender, to underprivileged.

The sculpture was woven in a broken twill pattern with hand painted paper stamped with words. Even if the printed words are not always fully readable, they are imbedded into the vessel to emphasize their significance.

Words used in Scrubbed: pollution, female, Gulf of Mexico, nonbinary, they them, diversity, tribal, clean energy, disability, LGBTQ, race, sex, trans, Native American and Hispanic minority.