This exhibition surveys the work of two artists whose fiber roots
began in the early 1970’s. Innovators of the Art To Wear
Movement, these artists have continued to work in fiber exploring
both cloth and canvas, on and off the body. This exhibition will
focus on their work as a conversation between similar objectives
while uncovering the relevance the cut and slashed surface has
for each individual.
Southeast Asian baskets represent the symbiosis of traditional
rural life and the community’s relationship with nature. The
basket maker is simultaneously botanist, mathematician,
structural engineer and artist. To bring baskets to life and
deepen their meaning, this exhibition presents the pieces within
the context of daily rural life and the cycle of agriculture.
This exhibition will highlight a wide range of western and
ethnographic costume, textile and furniture items acquired since
1992. Exquisite, labor-intensive dyeing, weaving, and
embellishment techniques will be evident in many of the pieces. A
grouping of textiles will contrast “authentic” pieces with pieces
which simulate those same time-consuming dyeing, weaving, or
surface embellishment techniques.
The first fibers woven by the indigenous people of Mesoamerica
came from the endemic maguey or agave plant. Still in use today,
ancient techniques transform these fibers into rope, bags, cargo
nets, tumplines, hammocks, and horse gear. The secrets of these
processes were learned from extensive field research in
Guatemala, and are the basis for this exhibit. Photos and samples
illustrate methods of fiber extraction, spinning, and loom and
non-loom construction techniques. Market scenes and product use
round out the display.
