Back Apron (Arkalik) c. 1940

This Back Apron was created with fiber, yarn, and dye by an anonymous artist. I’m thinking about the anonymous artist’s hands, about the movements they made as they added each stripe, each bit of fringe. What did they think about as they worked? What was the rhythm of their process? I like how the simple stripes are interrupted by these decorative borders that look as though they might have emerged organically. There’s a lot of repetition here but also, a lot of variation; each stripe is slightly different from the others, and the fringe has a tactile quality that suggests a long and thoughtful process. It reminds me of the work of textile artist Anni Albers, who also combined simple forms with complex textures and patterns. I wonder if this artist would have imagined their apron here, in a museum? It goes to show that art is everywhere.