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!

Pull of the Thread, sock ministry, and flowers

Yesterday's Textile Museum and NE Rug society's joint presentation was a montage of a generation of young travelers and collectors who followed the pull of Eastern textiles, to collect and display them to Western audiences.

Aside from the cringe factor of wealthy young white Westerners cosplaying Eastern wearable art, they did undertake serious study, too, and became knowledgeable in their special interests. So that's what I focused on in my editing of a lengthy PowerPoint presentation. 

There's the usual drawback that the presenter, whose own book is the subject of the program, admits to knowing little about textiles, so we refrained from asking questions about looms, dyes and material sources. I did make a point of including all the images showing artisans weaving. And there's a lot to enjoy here, so here goes.

And back home, I finished the sunset sock, and will start the second today.

Leaving you with the last of the flowers this morning, casting their shadow in an interesting composition,  happy day,  everyone, enjoy what you can, be aware of agendas!