Pagoda 1982

Miriam Schapiro created "Pagoda" by piecing together different fabrics with incredible detail. Imagine her in the studio, surrounded by stacks of colorful textiles, carefully selecting each piece like choosing words for a poem. I love how the heart shape contains this whole world of patterns and textures, like a garden bursting with life. The blues give depth, like a night sky, and the florals feel both delicate and strong. Schapiro’s touch is evident in every placement, every stitch, as if she's whispering stories into the fabric. She was part of the Pattern and Decoration movement, alongside artists like Joyce Kozloff and Robert Zakanitch, who believed that so-called 'craft' materials, like textiles and ceramics, had equal value to high art. This piece feels like a conversation with artists from all eras, constantly remixing and reimagining. To me, "Pagoda" isn’t just a pretty surface; it’s a celebration of making, a testament to the power of intuition, and a space for endless looking.