Well of the Concubine Pearl 1967

Barbara Chase-Riboud made this sculpture, "Well of the Concubine Pearl," from contrasting materials like bronze and silk, and that's part of its magic. I love the way the shiny, almost futuristic top meets this bundled, textural base. The lower half is like a massive, gray tassel, thick ropes cinched tight, cascading down. It's incredibly tactile; you can almost feel the weight and roughness. Then, your eye travels up to the smooth, reflective metal, sharply creased and folded, like a high-tech origami. The contrast is so satisfying, the grayness of the silk against the silver of the metal above. It's a real push and pull between materials. It makes you question what you think you know about sculpture, about texture, about what is precious or fragile. Thinking about other artists using textiles, I'm reminded of Sheila Hicks. Like Hicks, Chase-Riboud asks us to consider art as more than just something to look at; it’s something to experience, to feel, and ultimately, to question.