The Lacis Museum Newsletter

November 4th, 2010
Dear Friends of LMLT,

This Week

The Houston Quilt Market, by attending, garnered my attention this week, as the quilt in its many manifestations offered a reflection of who we were and who we are, in many ways paralleling the traditions of embroidery. The Market overwhelmed with quilt fabrics and “projects” as the latest designs as well as the traditional were offered with templates and fabrics and the monolith machines to make it all easy. The hand held needle and thread were not to be seen as the latest methods offered by technology could create the quilt without the hand  ever touching a needle.
But then. moving into an exhibition gallery, a revelation of the human spirit, the potential of the quilt medium a tool for expression. Along with collections of the traditional patterned quilts, there were works by the hands of passion, expressions distinctly personal, of who we and where we are as individuals.
 
\Of the exhibit
Lots of visitors this week, many expressly to see the EMBROIDERY exhibit, others simply stepping through the looking glass. Many who don’t have the time have been caught in the wave, priorities change and time suddenly stops.

Treasuring the comments, the visitors write:

“Outstanding exhibit! Thank you!” Tatune, Petaluma
“Amazing! Thank you!”  Carol, Richmond
“Thank you for your knowledge and joy in giving this tour and showing your passion and pleasure. Well done! ‘ Joyce
“What luck to come on tour day”  Beth, Carrnoro, NC
“Beautiful and prized collection” Karl & Gebeveve, Littlecock, CA
..,.and from a group tour of about 20 “knitters” of the Hillside Gardeners of Montclair, “thank you for a wonderful tour..”

...the comments most welcomed as we do the best we can.
 
The LMLT Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/LacisMuseum) is gathering friends, thanks to Karen and we ask our friends to keep us informed of events you would like to share.  Please pass on any comments to facebook@LacisMuseum.org,

EMBROIDERY FORGOTTEN

There is a uniqueness to embroidery that separates it from all the other arts, textile or otherwise. It can be an expression of the human spirit much like painting and yet it has many of the attributes of sculpture, the threads akin to the permanent chisel marks in stone. They are laid down with much thought and time, and yet can be as spontaneous as the tip of a painters brush. The potential of embroidery as an art form is rarely witnessed, yet, when it is, it is awesome.

Living within a world of embroidery in the LMLT gallery, a consciousness is revealed of an entirely different story of this universal craft. The richest of traditions have been lost as we learn embroidery today via the classes, Guilds, and projects we pursue. We love the techniques and skills and take pride in our accomplishments in working the finest counts with the most glorious threads. We use our hands to accomplish the perfect piece and yet we little understand the potential of this art.

Impressions of the chain stitch found in the sands of ancient China support the dating of  embroidery going back over 3,000 years when silk, as the perfect thread was gifted to man. Ever since, the skills were perfected, the symbols of our social entities emerged from the painted and tattooed body to the fabrics covering our body, now using needle and thread.. The symbols evolved into patterns soon recorded into our earliest books, to be repeated over and over again, embroidery relegated as the medium for eternity.

For these three thousand years embroidery disavowed our souls, devoid of all that is human. The Chinese, certainly the masters of technical skill, never strayed of this negation of spirit. The symbols, if not representing good health, long life and happiness, conveyed the ranks and status of social positions. The embroideries always still, static and forever, the stories being only messages. The English loved telling stories with their embroidery, mainly of biblical and mourning themes. The embroideries of the trees, the garments and flora in magnificent detail of stitch and time, the people in these scenes, devoid of any embroidery, simple impersonal faces, painted as an after thought to complete the story. Chinese embroideries are filled with people...people as merely parts of a machine, stylized faces identical, much akin to the happy-face people imbedded in today’s society.

In the second half of the 19th century, embroidery, for the first time, exposed itself, releasing the passion of the human spirit. Japan opening up to the unknown West, accepted embroidery as a universal language for contact. The symbols would be too abstract but the soul would be universal. They created embroideries for export, releasing thousands of years of technical skill to create universal stories of passion. Embroidery was now the embroider.

This passage was soon forgotten, emotional communication again relegated to the graphic and sculptural arts, embroidery limited to the perfect stitch and the printed patterns, the symbols of society.

The current Exhibit explores the magical potential of embroidery in some extraordinary pieces of a forgotten art.







Jules Kliot, Exhibit curator

For reflections of embroidery in China today, I will, in next newsletter share comments received from Martha Sherick Shen, one of the Museum founders, who recently returned from an enlightened trip to this other world.  

 
Events

EMBROIDERY: THE EXTRAORDINARY OF NEEDLE AND SPIRIT
The Fall textile exhibit departs from the previous Lace themes and presents an overview of Needlework from the Museum’s Embroidery collection. Encompassing virtually every culture and age, the needle would secure the symbols of tradition as well as the freedom and spirituality of the individual, the needle garnering  an emotional appeal unique to embroidery. The 2000 years of embroidery presented is sure to awaken a sensitivity to the human spirit .
The Exhibit Gallery is open at all times when the Museum is open, Monday thru Saturday 12:00-6:00 PM.  Ask any Staff Member for access. I am available for formal tours most days, at 2:30, weekdays and 3:00 on Saturday. If you call ahead requesting a tour I will try and work with your schedule.
A slide show of the actual exhibit can now be viewed on the LMLT web site along with the initial slide show of exhibit pieces.
Adding dimension to this exhibit and to connect with the hands of the embroiderer, a display of the embroiderer’s tools and materials will be on display. Many of the larger embroideries were embellished with elaborate tassels, often of metallic threads. As an adjunct to this exhibit a collection of these early metal thread tassels will be presented. A slide show of some of the pieces can now be viewed on the LMLT web site LacisMuseum.org

2011 EXHIBITS
Looking ahead, the Spring costume exhibit for 2011 will be on UNDERGARMENTS and how they shaped us both physically, emotionally and mentally.  Tentative date: April 2, 2011 to July 30, 2011.
The Fall textile exhibit will focus on KNITTED LACE and its manifestations in the cultures of Estonia, Russia, Shetland and Germany. Nancy Bush, sharing her own affair with Estonia, will be taking a curatorial role and will develop educational programs coordinated with the exhibit. The knitted lace of Marguerite Shimmons will highlight the modern lace movement, as developed in Germany in the early 20th c.  Tentative date: September 16, 2011 to February 4, 2012.
 
Classes

(Note: Class schedules subject to change. Confirm dates prior to registering)

November 6th, and 20th, Saturdays, 10:00 to 5:00

VICTORIAN CORSETRY with Carol Wood. Carol will again offer this popular workshop. In this three-part class you will learn the art and engineering of the Victorian corset, and make one of your own. Using the pattern for “Ladies’ Victorian Underwear” (#100) by Laughing Moon Mercantile, you’ll alter the pattern to make a muslin mock-up fitted to your exact measurements, and then you’ll use your muslin to make a double-layer corset in coutil, with the option of covering it in your choice of fashion fabric. The two class session is designed to allow adequate time between classes to do work on your project on your own time. Depending on your sewing ability and choice of fabrics, the object will be to complete your corset by class end. You can see an example of the corset on display at the museum shop.



December 3 (Friday thru December 5, Sunday

A MEXICAN SAMPLER WORKSHOP with Eilene Cross.
[ Due to necessary preparation, Signup for this class closes November 8}
A three day workshop for serious needle workers, based on Eilene’s discoveries from examination of a Mexican Sampler from 1819 in the LMLT collection. The workshop will be scheduled to coincide with the Embroidery Exhibit where the sampler will be displayed. Eilene is a member of the Bay Area Sampler Guild, an authority on Western textiles, an instructor, lecturer and appraiser. .Class fee is $115.00 which includes a chart pack prepared by Eilene. There will be an additional required material fee which will include necessary threads and canvas for approximately $145.00.



December 17 and 17, 2010 (Wednesday and Friday Evenings)

BEGINNING TATTING with Kevin Baum. No longer be intimidated by tatting. This class, intended for beginners, will get you on track for shuttle tatting, learning the basic hand motions, the double stitch, ring, chain and picots. By working a basic project, reading  a graphic pattern will be taught.

January 12 and 14, 2011

TATTING A HEART with Kevin Baum. Reading a pattern to make a Valentine’s Day Heart and then finishing, blocking and starching to create your own heirloom. Students should have basic knowledge of shuttle tatting.

February 25 and 26 2011 (Friday and Saturday)

FELT FOLK AND FRIENDS with Ayala Talpai. Excitement is in the air as Ayala will return, not just to teach felting but to stir the imagination beneath the surface of all of us. You will not just make...you will create. Ayala will provide all materials for he class, sharinmg her stash of brilliant fibers and embellishment materials.  Friday morning will be devoted to making needle felted 4-legged animal friends built on wire armatures. The remaining sessions will be devoted to creating a Folk friend from a voluptuous babe, to a toddler by Ayala’s unique technique explained in her soon-to-be-released book. Hollow body parts will be wet felted and then stuffed and assembled all detail work then handled easily with the versatile felting needle, Her classes fill quickly.



July 21-24, 2011 (Wednesday thru Saturday) tentative

CLONES IRISH CROCHET LACE with Maire Treanor. Plans are currently underway for another workshop by Maire. The overwhelming success of her workshop earlier this year has inspired a new workshop as a continuation of her earlier offering. Maire resides in Ireland and is truly dedicated to keeping alive Ireland’s rich textile traditions. She is author of  “CLONES LACE, The Story and Patterns of an Irish Crochet”/

Details on all classes and workshops are available on our web site at http://lacismuseum.org/classes.html.
 
Lace Groups at LMLT

Participation is free and if attending, do bring some of your accomplishments, complete or incomplete, and find a community of friends.

BOBBIN LACE GROUP
This steadily growing group meets on the third Saturday of each month from 1 - 3. Hosted by Maria Jose Munoz and Beth Lysten, all are welcome to learn, share and encourage.  The October get together was packed, enticing  participation from Exhibit visitors.  If curiosity persists, we would encourage participation in the more formal bobbin lace classes offered by Maria at LMLT.  The group will next meet on Saturday, November 20th from 1 - 3.



KNITTING GROUP
Welcoming knitters of all persuasions to gather, learn, share and explore all the facets of this 1-thread-2-needle textile technique, this group will meet at the Museum on the second Saturday of each month from 1:00-3:00 PM. All are invited, to knit or just meet Amy.   Amy, a creative knitter and natural instructor, can make any garment fit and find a way to restore the intended glory of discards. She helped put an all men’s knitting club in the spotlight in lower Manhattan while instructing children, adults, seniors and celebrities how to tame yarn with a pair of pointed sticks. The group will next meet this Saturday, November 13h from 1 - 3.



TEXTILE CLINIC.
LMLT offers a free clinic on the third Monday of each month from 2 - 4:00,  offering guidance as to identification, restoration, conservation, repair, storage and value as related to lace, costume, rugs, quilts and virtually any other textile. Our own “Road Show,” bring and share what may or may not be those treasures.
 
Details are available on our web site at http://lacismuseum.org/classes.html

New in the Shop

WEDDED PERFECTION, Cynthia Amneus (AN58). An extraordinary collection of two centuries of wedding gowns from the top fashion houses with history of the wedding ceremony, rituals, attitudes and comparative illustrations, reflecting the attitudes of the time and certainly the bride.

CONNECTICUT NEEDLEWORK: WOMEN, ART, AND FAMILY, 1740-1840, Susan P. Schoelwer. (UP52). The works of our hands in preserving the traditions of a culture where the needle was the tool that gave live meaning.  Samplers, quilts, garments, pictures, all with provenance give an extraordinary picture of this era, and help understand the Embroidery Exhibit at our Museum.
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Closing Thoughts

We close a week with some pride as we, a people, now realize that we are basically individuals, ready to accept an extraordinary responsibility. Those who pass through the current Embroidery Exhibit have been introduced to these rare moments in human history, when this power, endowed by our creator, surfaces.

Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles
2982 Adeline Street
Berkeley, CA  94703

http://lacismuseum.org/

at Ashby & Adeline St., adjacent to the "Ashby" BART Station
Hours: Monday thru Saturday 12:00 - 6:00 pm
tel: 510-843-7290