Shaker Circular Rug 1935 - 1942

Editor: This is the "Shaker Circular Rug," dating from around 1935 to 1942. The artwork blends textile, fiber art, and drawing, presenting a really fascinating mix of media. What jumps out to me immediately is the concentric composition. What do you make of this piece? Curator: The concentric composition, as you note, is paramount. Observe how the varying widths and hues of the circles generate a sense of dynamism, almost a visual pulse. Consider how the artist has created relationships between these components using texture and chromatic choices. The eye is drawn inexorably to the implied center. Editor: It definitely has this pull to the middle. I see the circles getting smaller, but the colors also shift. There's a definite rhythm in how the shades are patterned. Is there a name for the color strategy used here? Curator: We can approach the color theory from the perspective of Modernist abstraction, and this prompts us to think about how forms such as lines, circles, shades and textures are employed in this design. This prompts the viewer to consider shape and volume as the essence of design and creativity, in general. Do you feel that it evokes some form of nature, when looked upon from that perspective? Editor: I see it as organic, absolutely. Like looking at a tree's rings or ripples in water. So, moving from Folk Art to something abstract gives new appreciation for both technique and intention. Curator: Precisely. Now we start decoding the symbolism within this arrangement of shape, texture, and colour. It prompts reflection beyond simple appreciation of textile making and its roots. We see the emergence of novel semiotic concepts in terms of forms. Editor: I'm finding that examining artwork closely makes for a completely different way to look at ordinary items. The texture is the key and it’s like meditation of circles, as you brought up! Thanks so much! Curator: Indeed. And by doing that, our focus shifts to experiencing what the image conveys regarding a novel semiotic construction with colour and geometric pattern.