Textile: Technique Demonstration 1935 - 1942

This textile demonstration was made by Della Button, but we don't know exactly when. This piece is all about pattern, and it seems that Della was really interested in how a design could work across a surface, in different colors. I like the way she’s combined real fabric swatches with drawings of patterns. The checkerboard is cool. And the little flowers, like tiny fireworks, remind me a little of the work of Ree Morton, how she used to draw and collage. Della was probably exploring what designs she could create, and how the same design could be altered by changes of color. I imagine Della thinking a lot about the relationship between color, form and structure. She was probably thinking, how can I create something beautiful and useful? It's cool to see how artists across generations deal with the same questions.