The Golden Robe 1979

Miriam Schapiro made this "femmage," The Golden Robe, with fabric and paint, building up layers like a delicious, complex dessert. It's a process of accumulation, which mirrors how we gather experiences and memories. There is a delightful tension between the flat surface and the illusion of depth created by the overlapping fabrics. The textures vary so much, from the smooth, almost shimmering gold to the rougher, more patterned pieces. Look at that central triangle, patched together from different gold fabrics, like a little pyramid of abundance. Schapiro lets us see the seams, the edges, the way things are pieced together, and that's where the magic lies, in the making itself. Schapiro’s approach reminds me a bit of what Robert Rauschenberg was doing with collage, but she brings such a distinctly feminine sensibility to it. Ultimately, it's this kind of playful exploration that keeps art alive. It is not about answers, but about embracing the questions.