Since the beginning of 2025, words like "female," "mental health," "disabilities," "equality," "Native American," and "climate science"—among more than a hundred others—have been deliberately deleted from government websites, a move described by the New York Times as an effort to purge the federal government of so-called“woke”ideology. This act of censorship reaches beyond policy, reverberating through communities whose identities and rights are bound up in these terms.

In Vanishing Words, the arrangement and shape of each vessel—round, oval, and square—are intentionally chosen to mirror the wide range of voices and issues that have been targeted for removal. The diversity in form represents the multifaceted impact of these missing words, emphasizing how their absence silences entire communities and erases vital conversations. The placement of the vessels on a woven platform further symbolizes the interconnectedness of these topics and the shared loss felt across society.

Artistic choices such as weaving and printing serve as metaphors for both preservation and resistance. By weaving these words into each vessel, the artwork ensures they remain visible and valued despite attempts to erase them. The printed text—sometimes partially obscured, yet always present—acts as a testament to the enduring importance of these ideas and identities, inviting viewers to reflect on the cost of their absence.

Words used in Vanishing Words: activists, advocate, at risk, biased, clean energy, cultural sensitivity, diverse, equal opportunity, hate speech, implicit bias, inclusion, LatinX, mental health, oppression, prejudice, pronouns, racial justice, victim, BIPOC, DEI, disability, diversity, ethnicity, equality, female, immigrants, transgender, underprivileged, underserved, gender, cultural heritage, belong, climate crisis, disparity, equity, ethnicity, feminism, inequality, injustice, marginalized, minorities, pregnant people, race, sex, tribal, sexuality and women.