UC Clermont Art Gallery presents: Fabrics from Around the World

More than 30 students learned about traditional fabrics from around the world, through a cross-disciplinary collaboration between students in diverse courses at UC Clermont College. The exhibit “Fabrics from Around the World” is the culmination of this project and will be presented in the Clermont College Art Gallery from November 3-29. 

Students from Assistant Professor Isabel Parra’s Latin American Culture class researched Latin American textiles with an emphasis on the social and political underpinnings.   The three traditions examined were: “Quipus”, an ancient Incan recording system using colored threads tied in knots; “Arpilleras”, quilted and embroidered stories of lost loved ones during the military dictatorship of the 1970s and 1980s in Chile; and the traditions and current working conditions of weavers in Guatemala. Students from this course then presented their new-learned knowledge to students studying fiber art and fabric design.

Interesting class discussions occurred after the World Cultures students explained the cultural meaning of both ancient Incan as well as contemporary Chilean quilts and embroidery.  Students started to develop an awareness of the power of storytelling during political oppression.  Through this project, students gained new awareness of the diverse working conditions for women and children who make textiles around the world.

Students in Assistant Professor of Art Kelly Frigard’s Fibers class then responded by creating projects which were inspired by traditional textile techniques from around the world including felting from Mongolia, batik from Java, India, and China, and shibori from Indonesia and Japan.  “Some of theses projects sought to honor the textile traditions of the artists’ mothers and grandmothers, while others chose to explore contemporary themes,” said Frigard.  Among these were explorations of color, shape, and form which express the joy of working with ones hands, and the power of textiles to evoke memory.  The project was a success because it combined research, cooperative learning, interpretation, and self-expression, according to Frigard.

An unexpected benefit has grown from these activities.  “In addition to planting seeds of global appreciation with students, we are beginning to cultivate a small network of professors at Clermont College who see advantages in international education,” Frigard added.

The reception is open to all on November 16 from noon 1 p.m. in the UC Clermont College Art Gallery. 
The UC Clermont Art Gallery is sponsored by Park National Bank and located in the Snyder Building on the UC Clermont College campus in Batavia at 4200 Clermont College Drive. Hours are Monday - Thursday 7:30 a.m. 7 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m. 5 p.m. and Saturday 8:30 a.m. 12:30 a.m. The exhibition is free and open to the public.