Kira c. 20th century

This is a textile work called Kira, made by an anonymous artist, and held at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Look at the scale: it's over eight feet high! Imagine the maker of this, patiently and methodically building up these intricate patterns stitch by stitch. You can see the artist working, thinking about structure, but also letting it flow, responding to the rhythms and colors. I can imagine the maker of this, and how she works. I see the decisions she might have made in its creation, about colour, and rhythm. I see a conversation between tradition and innovation. There are repeating motifs, yet each one feels slightly different, imbued with the artist's own sensibility. When I look at this piece, I am reminded of the quilts made by the women of Gee's Bend, Alabama. While different in form, both traditions share a similar spirit of resourcefulness, creativity, and community. Making art is an act of connection - to oneself, to one's community, and to the long history of artistic expression.