Armband c. 20th century

This armband was made by an anonymous artist, and you can see it here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Look at how the artist moves between the solid black braiding and the more playful bands of color. It reminds me of how, when I’m painting, I go back and forth between planning and improvisation. The texture is great, right? The way the dark yarn is tightly bound and then releases into these free-flowing tassels gives it so much energy. The metallic discs catch the light, adding little bursts of brightness and rhythm. I can imagine the sound they would make as the wearer moves. It's like a visual song. It makes me think of the work of Sheila Hicks, who also uses fiber to create these amazing, tactile sculptures. Art is just a conversation, after all, each artist adding their own voice to the mix. In the end, what matters is the feeling that the work gives you. It’s okay if you don’t have all the answers. Sometimes, the questions are more interesting anyway.