Skirt 1930

This woven skirt, from an anonymous artist, is like a painting made with thread. I can imagine the artist patiently building up the surface, line by line, maybe over months. You know, artists are always thinking about color, and I wonder what went into the choice of this deep red, almost brown. It’s like the color of earth, or dried blood. The artist probably had to dye the thread themselves, so each decision would have had a material reality to it. To me, the geometric patterns, the way they repeat, it's so human. You can sense the rhythm and feel the artist’s hand. I wonder if they knew other textile artists, what their conversations were like, and what they would have made of the final piece. Textiles are often overlooked, but this is so clearly someone’s passion, the same way a painter feels compelled to cover a canvas. We’re all in this ongoing conversation.