The creation of cloth is characterized by a process of gradual repetition. An embroidery is made stitch by stitch. Each loop in knitting follows one after the other. Each pass of the shuttle in weaving builds upon a previous movement. As artists, we may think of these gestures as small acts of devotion. However, these tiny acts are, by no means, limited to textile processes. They appear in cooking, in cleaning, and in how we take care of our loved ones and our communities. In nature, repeated actions—layer by layer—create a mountain; tiny drops of water—inch by inch—carve out a canyon.
As makers, we often ask ourselves “What does devotion look like in a material form?” There are purposeful acts we make by choice and other behaviors that we perform out of ritual and habit. The cycles and loops of daily life can sometimes seem mundane, forgettable, and otherwise ordinary. Perhaps through these repetitive and devotional processes of textile production, we can see something meaningful, surprising, and even sacred emerge in the humble routines of handwork and daily life. The idea that a link exists between the sacred and the mundane is a constant and universal theme within the human story. This exhibition in print seeks to reveal these narratives and invites artists from many material traditions to explore the theme as it manifests in their particular and idiosyncratic lives.
Surface Design Journal is a quarterly print publication that brings the world of contemporary fiber arts to your fingertips. International in scope, articles focus on contemporary textile and fiber-based art and design through a breathtaking array of concepts, applications, processes, and materials. The Journal delves deeply into the latest trends, expands existing knowledge about technique or applications and inspires readers in the studio and beyond. Each year, SDA’s International Exhibition In Print showcases the breadth and depth of contemporary artists and designers working with or inspired by fiber art and/or textile-based materials, methods, and techniques.