Woman's blouse (Huipil) c. 1965

This Woman’s blouse, or Huipil, was made by the Maya people. The color just sings, doesn't it? Look at how the bright red warps make the vertical lines with subtle color variations of yellow, pink and blue. This to me speaks of artmaking as a process of continual discovery, much like a painter mixing colors, always searching for that perfect, elusive hue. Embroidery has a totally different relationship to color, it’s stitch by stitch, and each one counts. The designs in the Huipil are constructed using this kind of labor-intensive method, building up complex patterns and imagery with meticulous attention to detail. I love the way the embroidered elements contrast with the linear nature of the woven stripes. It’s like a conversation between different ways of seeing and making. When I look at this Huipil I see a connection to the work of artists like Sheila Hicks who explored the tactile and sculptural possibilities of fiber art. Like painting, textiles embrace ambiguity and offer us endless opportunities for interpretation.