FELT DECODED | WOOL: NATURE’S TECHNOLOGY
February 11, 2017–June 4, 2017
Guest Curator:
Janice Arnold
Felt Decoded | Wool: Nature’s Technology is generously sponsored by The Woolmark Company.
From lacy wisps of wool to supple fabric to rock-like slabs – wool FELT is a textile of extremes. It is an extraordinary material with humble origins that has been an integral part of human life for millennia. It is a story of survival, sustainability, and evolution of fabric and tradition so old it has become new again.
Exploring wool as Nature’s Technology is the premise of this exhibition, which will decode the process and analyze the science to reveal the unexpected beauty and versatility of wool felt.
Felt Decoded represents a comprehensive collection of work by Janice Arnold. Her work is informed by wool as a raw fiber, intrinsic in the practice of making Felt – a textile that represents the wisdom of our nomadic past – living in harmony with the earth. This textile is being rediscovered and reimagined as a fabric of the future for sustainability in industry, architecture, apparel and the arts.
Janice Arnold, “Cave of Memories”, 2017. Image courtesy of the artist
PHOTO GALLERY
Felt Decoded | Wool: Nature’s Technology, 2017, Museum of Craft and Design. Images courtesy of Henrik Kam
ARTIST
As the daughter of a cartographer, Janice Arnold grew up looking at the world in landscapes rather than countries, contour lines rather than boundaries, textures rather than cultures. Fine fabric was always a passion. Throughout college, she was enamored with folk art, high fashion and studied a wide variety of textile traditions. She traveled extensively to learn traditional techniques within cultural contexts.
Janice Arnold started making handmade Felt in 1999 for a large-scale sculpture commission for the Nordstrom Corporation stores. She has focused intently on making Felt as functional fabric and art form ever since.
PRESS RELEASE
View the press release for Felt Decoded | Wool: Nature’s Technology here.
