Prayer Rugs at the NERS

If you don’t have time to make it to a museum, and are in need of a textile fix, the Internet if full of many amazing on line exhibitions of artwork. We will certainly explore these as time goes on. This week I stumbled into The New England Rug Society. Currently showcase on on-line exhibition of Islamic Prayer Rugs & Related Textiles.

Harvard University Scholar Jeff Spur provides commentary on the importance and history of these religious textiles. His exploration into the symbolic meaning behind the iconography is enlightening and brings a wonderful clarification.

With twenty-six examples of rugs to explore a full range to stylistic possibilities are represented. Take advantage of the close up images to get an understanding of the structure or flip through the pages to see an amazing range of patterns and colors.

To visit the New England rug society exhibition go to http://www.ne-rugsociety.org/gallery/prayer-rugs-fall-2002/ners-prayer-rug-intro.htm

King of Fashion at the MET

If you are able to get to New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art before August 8th, make sure to spend some time seeing the Costume Institute’s special exhibition, “Poiret: King of Fashion.” Otherwise, don’t miss the on-line exhibit at http://www.metmuseum.org/special/index.asp?HomePageLink=special_l

The genius of Paul Poiret (1879–1944) comes in many forms, and this exhibition has captured them all. He is credited as being the first designer to free women from the corset only to force them into the hobble skirt. Working in the early twentieth century, Poiret’s successful fashion house set the beginning mark of the modern age in women’s fashion. His collaborations with artists such as, Raoul Dufy and Georges Lepape, helped him to make his mark in the world of fashion and allowed himself and future generations to move into the concept of fashion as art.

As usual, the MET has done an amazing job at showcasing the work of this pivotal designer. In recent years, they have gone the extra step with their costume exhibitions and this show was no exception, as the clothes are seen in their natural habitats. Scenes are created to mimic the famous illustrations found in La Gazette du bon ton, the Parisian magazine that showcased the work of Poiret. The best part of the exhibit, though, is the computer-animated videos that illustrate the exact construction from fabric to finished garment of selected pieces.

Hidden Treasure’s at the MET

The next time you make it to the MET look for the hidden textile treasures in the Byzantine gallery. Underneath the main stairwell of the museum is a strange little gallery of Early Byzantine artifacts from Egypt. These treasures include the most intricate tapestry woven textiles in the museum. You can get close enough to see every thread in these realistic images that most often were used as amulets on adults tunics. To get an on-line sneak of these check out:
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ho/05/afe/hod_90.5.848.htm.