The Golden Robe 1979

"The Golden Robe" is an artwork made by Miriam Schapiro, and it's not just a painting, it’s more like a textile collage. Imagine Schapiro piecing together fragments of fabric like a quilt. It's got a real patchwork feel to it with these jagged edges zig-zagging down the 'robe', it's just so alive! The artist has arranged the materials to form this gorgeous, regal garment. The colors are warm and inviting with that red base and the rich gold embellishments. I see the process as a form of meditation, the rhythm of cutting and pasting— decisions made instinctively, responding to the materials at hand. The piece feels connected to traditions of craft and ornamentation, like Byzantine art. I wonder what was on her mind when she was making it? It reminds me of my own studio practice and the way one thing just leads to another.