Woven Bedspread c. 1936

Gladys C. Parker created this woven bedspread design, we don't know exactly when or with what, but it’s all about pattern, rhythm, and repetition. The piece is like a study in contrasts, not just in the two-tone color scheme, but also in the textures and the way the design alternates. You can almost feel the weave, the way the threads interlock and create a tactile surface. It's like Parker is thinking through the process of making, the physical act of weaving and how that translates into a visual experience. Take the top example, for instance. See how the squares form a sort of a spiral, drawing your eye inward? And then, look at the lower example, how the colors are inverted, creating a completely different mood, darker and more intense. It reminds me a bit of Anni Albers, another weaver who explored the intersection of art and craft, the way patterns can create a sense of movement and depth. It’s about the possibilities inherent in a simple set of materials, and art as an ongoing conversation across time.