"Language is a dynamic material--a complex web of abstract shapes, sounds and gestures-- in and from which we place and receive meaning. Every thought, word read, or sentence uttered rests upon a constantly shifting cultural negotiation." Heather Schulte's work utilizes common and domestic materials (like thread, fabric, newspapers, rugs, paper, or acrylic glass) to emphasize language as a fundamental human tool, whether spoken, written, thought, gestured, or typed; communication is an essential part of both intimate and public life. It can connect and divide, wound and heal, build up or tear down, hide and reveal. It shapes us, and we wield it to shape our world.Schulte isolates and recontextualizes news articles, tweets, and colloquial concepts or phrases to highlight the social categorization that undergirds everyday speech and information exchanges, drawing attention to things often said, but rarely considered. She frequently uses patterns of code as a translation tool, drawing attention to language forms, patterns, and systems, and how these change over time and are carried forward into new technologies. She is inspired by James Baldwin's quote, “The great force of history comes from the fact that we carry it within us, are unconsciously controlled by it in many ways, and history is literally present in all that we do.” Schulte adds, "it is also present in all that we say."