Bath Wrap 1980

This Bath Wrap, over at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, is a textile, so threads, not paint. But think of each placement, each woven addition, as a mark. I’m really drawn to the way the maker created depth using horizontal lines and patterns that disrupt the vertical lines of the warp. Up close, you can see how the deep reds, purples, and sandy yellows combine, creating this warm feeling, almost like you could wrap yourself in it. The edges are particularly interesting. The way the diamond-like shapes are stacked, they almost seem like a digital glitch, like something is out of sync. It reminds me a little of the geometric abstraction of someone like Agnes Martin. What emerges is a piece that balances the handmade with a sense of otherworldly beauty. It reminds me that art, whether it’s weaving or painting, is about seeing and feeling in new ways.