Reading Textiles: Culture and Communication

Identity is woven from different stories- some that we inherit and some that we create. These narratives tell us who we are, what we value, and where we belong. This exhibition presents examples of contemporary creators using traditional fiber arts as a medium to explore and express their culture, history, and identity.

Traditional fiber arts include textiles created from both natural and synthetic fibers like cotton, wool, linen, or nylon. These Fibers are brought together in a meaningful way to create a "readable" work. These textiles may include words, but more often, they rely on colors, symbols, and techniques to tell personal and cultural stories, sometimes by several authors.

Navigating This Exhibit: 
  • See red text? Click on it to follow the hyperlink.
  • When you see  blue text, scroll to the bottom of the page to see that word's definition.
  • Need more information on an image? Click it to navigate to the detail page.
  • To see all the items: Visit the Traditional Textiles Item Collection.