Woman's garment (Kira) c. 20th century

This Woman's garment, or Kira, at the Minneapolis Institute of Art is bursting with color! It's a textile alive with blues, greens, reds, purples and whites, woven into horizontal bands of geometric shapes. I wonder about the maker. What was it like to thread the needle, choosing each color, repeating patterns? The textile has a rhythm, a pulse, which gives it the feel of a musical score. It reminds me that making art can be like composing music, a back and forth, call and response, a kind of visual harmony. The geometric shapes have a certain logic, yet are imperfect, human. Like a painter carefully constructing an abstract composition, these shapes create layers of meaning. It connects us to the rich tradition of textile design, where repetition and variation reflect the ongoing exchange of ideas, inspiring new forms of creativity. It invites multiple readings and meanings.