Belt c. 20th century

This striking Belt, from an unknown time and place, was carefully woven by an anonymous artist. Isn’t it fascinating how the maker chose to arrange these figures? They are so carefully laid out in horizontal registers. There’s something satisfying about the repetition, the echo of one shape against another. The field of muted red, a kind of aged, earthy tone, holds the lighter figures in place, almost like a ground for a drawing. Look closely, and you can see the physical process, the tiny knots and turns of the thread. Imagine the maker, hour after hour, carefully placing each strand to create the pattern. I love to think about how the repetitive, meditative act of weaving is registered in the finished surface. Each decision, each slight adjustment, becomes part of the artwork's story. It reminds me of the work of the quilters of Gee’s Bend – how they transformed simple materials into profound works of art. It’s a reminder that art is always in conversation, an ongoing exchange of ideas and techniques.