Belt c. 20th century

This woven belt lives at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and was made by an anonymous artist. I imagine the artist's hands, working the loom, building up these complex patterns with infinite patience, a bit like how I build up layers of paint. It’s wild to think of the hours spent making this. You know, the way a thought takes shape, loop by loop? The artist wasn’t just making an object but was also working through something, connecting to a tradition. I bet there were times when they felt totally lost in the process, and other times when everything just flowed. The red and the orange sing out against the neutral color of the twisted strands. Look at those patterns! Each one is a little world of its own. The woven surface has got this amazing texture, a real sense of give-and-take. You know, this piece isn't just about function, it's a form of embodied expression. Like painting, weaving allows for multiple interpretations and meaning over fixed or definitive readings. It’s a reminder that artists are always in conversation with each other, across time and cultures, inspiring creativity.