Textile: Technique Demonstration 1935 - 1942

This Textile Technique Demonstration, by Della Button, probably made with mixed media, is a reminder that art is not always about grand gestures. The work is both drawing and collage, as the artist illustrates possible patterns for textiles, alongside samples of the real thing. I’m particularly drawn to the checkerboard example, as I am interested in how art explores different ways of seeing and experiencing the world. It is unclear if the drawing was made before or after the fabric sample was attached, the work plays on this ambiguity. It gives a glimpse into the artist's process, not just of creation but of decision-making. It reminds me of the work of Ree Morton, another artist whose practice embraced both painting and sculpture with a playful interest in decoration and design. Neither of these artists seem concerned with fixed meanings, their art opens up a space of imagination.