I recently submitted the following proposal for a presentation at the 2020 SAQA national meeting. I learned today that it was not accepted. Oh, well. Onward!
Articulating Fabricating
The Arts of Text on Textile
“Articulating Fabricating” will
explore the nexus of visual and verbal strategies that artists deploy at the
intersections of textual arts and textile arts across a range of practices. The
very words text and textile derive from the same Latin root
meaning to weave, and the practices
have diverged and converged at different times over human history.
After a brief historical review,
focus will shift to analysis of categories of current textile arts that include
textual elements such as alphabetic shapes dissociated from meaning,
inspirational words and phrases, historical data or narratives, subversive
texts, and other forms.
Textile arts span genres of
decorative, functional, fine-art, sculptural, multi-dimensional, abstract,
figurative, conceptual forms, and more. Textile
artists have always been articulate in the construction, promotion, and display
of their work. They create titles, artist
statements, website text, descriptions, blogs, and essays. They teach others with step-by-step
instructive narratives. More and more textile
artists are now using words and alphabets as integral forms within the work
itself. By means of embroidery and other
threadwork, applique or fusing, free-motion calligraphy, collage, paint, and
other creative strategies, textile artists inscribe words on surfaces of their
art. Despite an increase in linguistic forms on textiles, there has been almost
no commentary on this array of strategies.
What does this mean? What are the
antecedents of this text/textile conjunction? What are the categories of such work? What is the impact on those who view the
work? How does this strategy compare
with similar strategies in other genres of visual arts? Is the commentary on other art forms applicable
to discussion of textile art? The goal
of this presentation is to begin such a discussion.
With a focus on contemporary
textile arts, “Articulating Fabricating” will draw upon critique and discussion
of art/literary forms such as visual concrete poetry, Dada, typography, and conceptual
art. Examples of practice and statements by artists such as Faith Ringgold,
Peter Sacks, Sara Impey, and others will be included.
