String Theory: Textiles from the Permanent Collection

Throughout time and over various cultures, humans have used fibres in similar ways to construct a variety of objects. This exhibit utilised over 80 pieces from the Museum’s permanent collection to examine how similar construction methods have been used to create vastly different objects.

Organised by the Springfield Art Museum, the exhibition included primarily textiles, but also prints, paintings, and textile working tools and equipment. Pieces with similar construction methods were juxtaposed to show the variety of textile applications and construction methods, giving a glimpse into the culture that created the pieces. The five categories in the exhibit (embroidery, weaving, knitting, sewing, and quilting) will highlight the versatility of working in the fibre arts. The exhibit featured a 17th century French tapestry, a rug designed by Henri Matisse, and a quilt made by the Springfield chapter of the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, among other objects.