Adding Pattern, Adding Value
October 1, 2022-January 15, 2023
Image courtesy of the Norm Eggert.
Across time and across continents, people of different cultures have transformed woven textiles, whether created by hand or machine, by adding pattern in various ways—from dyeing yarns multiple colors, weaving complex patterns (jacquard), or using fabric as the ground to which pattern could be added through embroidery or resist techniques (tie-dye or batik). Such transformations take time, effort, and resources, adding value that is both aesthetic and economic. Drawing on the resources of the Fitchburg Art Museum’s collections of global textiles, this exhibition will explore various techniques used in Africa, Indonesia, China, and South America.