Another joint presentation of NERS and TMASC, silk artworks

This is a presentation of a collector's personal treasures of silk and cotton purses, caps and robes from nineteenth century Lebanon and Aleppo.

The small purses are tapestries, cotton warp, silk weft, with slits in the designs. I've seen slits in the Unicorn tapestries, also part of the design. 

The tapestries, like  earlier European ones are woven vertically but with the design arranged horizontally. This enables some effects such as curves, to avoid steps showing in the image.

Purses shown here in use by men and women from both major religious communities.

The purse shape is used for slippers and caps, too, ingenious making

Here's how the weaving is oriented in relation to the design

Resistance work!  Textiles have always been in the resistance movements.

Here's a shopping street and an interior showing artisan made goods

I think the stringed instrument is an oudh, open to correction on that

men were typically the weavers, while women, as you saw earlier,  processed the silk fibers

These three images are just right if you sew and want to make a cloak.  I included them in case you fancy trying your hand.

Closeup showing tapestry with slit design features

This was a nice presentation. The speaker pointed out that right now much of this area is a war zone, so we don't know if artisans are still able to function, but we hope.

Happy day, everyone, and I hope this little interlude with beautiful textiles was a respite from the stress of the day.

Vital info and rugs

Here's pictures for the poptart-curious 

There's a distinct difference between the graphic on the box and the actual pastry. I don't think this was worth it. I may point out to Misfits that it's not up to their standards. Skimpy filling, skimpy icing. Next time I'll make my own, I think.

On, inevitably in Boud's world anyway,  to Rumi, mysticism, an ancient prayer rug, mosque lamps and the Arabic for Allah. This was a presentation of the New England Rug Society, which  examined an ancient prayer rug, probably created by a single artisan on a home loom. It's  housed in the museum associated with the mystic poet and religious leader, Rumi. 

The design features shapes indicating mosque lamps, a motif found in many textiles, and the opposing letters indicating the name Allah, also found in architecture and metalwork as well as textiles.

I'll just show you slides and let it just flow over you! I  won't get into the academic no stone unexamined approach of the very knowledgeable presenter, whose career is focused on this rug.

This meditative piece of repetition stopped me dead. This is very much what Agnes Martin does in her subtle repetitive work. I think despite her massive lifetime achievements and awards,  she's very underestimated by the general public,  who haven't grasped her references and meaning.  Some of her work is currently in a group exhibit at the Ki  Smith gallery in New York, proceeds all to go to Prince Harry's Sentebale program.  

Here you see the power of repetition, the mysticism around it. Rumi and Martin have more in common than a person might at first think.

Here's the Allah motif on a painted mosque wall.

This presentation, was a great brief insight into the interconnections of  religious observance, poetry, mysticism and making. There's probably enough information for anyone who wants to pursue it further, but if you just enjoyed this connecting of dots, that's good enough.

Happy day, and I'm grateful to groups like NERS, who present free slide  lectures  by world class scholars for anyone to watch. They typically get viewers from over 50 countries to these Zoom events.

Only connect!