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Surface Design Journal Winter 2006
Editorial: Inside/Outside: New (No) Boundaries
 Driving
along the interstates this past summer, I often lamented the visual assault of soundproof barriers
that separated highways from surrounding communities. I imagined those walls increasing to the
point where a cross-country trip is a ride through an endless, numbingly monotonous tunnel. Recalling
this sense of diminishing difference between outdoor and indoor environments prompted a fast “Yes!” when
Bhakti Ziek proposed an article about an artist with textile training who designs sound walls.
At last, a recognition of mural potential in a barren arena! This issue with its theme of interior
surfaces seemed the one in which the article belonged.
A few months ago, an e-mail message from Ruth Mary Pollack came with an attached photo of a stone
floor in Venice that reminded
her of a quilt. That was definitely something to share with readers and again, this issue seemed the
right fit.
It also seemed a “must” to assign a piece on Extreme Textiles, a mind-expanding exhibition
that included not only structures woven of materials rigorous enough to stand as exterior/interior
walls but also embroidered prostheses to be embedded in the human body. Notions of inside and
outside were surely taking on a relative perspective.
The articles mentioned above may suggest engineering and infrastructure design rather than
textile accessories that bring comfort and warmth to homes and corporate interiors. However,
the kinds of objects our theme might suggest—e.g., pillows, rugs, and upholstery fabrics—are
included along with carbon fiber buildings.
Hildreth York’s in-depth survey of contemporary rugmaking proves
the ongoing need for textiles as mediators between the floor and
the body.*
In some cases, textiles are created through the kind of arduous research
required to develop a triaxial fabric for architecture. For example,
every artist discussed in Teliha Draheim’s article pushed a
technological edge. By contrast, for each of the companies covered
in Anais Missakian’s article on industrial textiles, research
led to a new look at hand manufacture.
In the middle of the issue, the “inside story” of SDA’s ’05
conference, “Uncovering the Surface,” fills several pages.
For those unable to attend, Jeanne Raffer Becks’ up close and
personal account will take you through the paces. Following that,
Nancy Corwin applies her critical eye to some of the exhibitions
held in conjunction with the conference. Once again, the event took
place in Kansas City, and once again, the proliferation of textile
expressions turned that city into SDA’s “home.”
*
Limited
space
prevented
the
depiction
of
an
image
to
represent
every
artist
discussed
in
Hildreth
York’s
article, “Floored.” Happily,
we
were
able
to
find
examples
of
work
by
those
who
were
omitted
on
the
internet.
Several
of
the
artists
have
their
own
web
sites:
Claudia
Mills—www.claudiamills.com
Lynn Basa—www.lynnbasa.com
Joyce Barker-Schwartz—jbsdesigns.net
Connie Enzmann-Forneris’s work can be seen at www.marigoldarts.com/forneris.htm
Sara Hotchkiss’s work can be seen at
http://fiberartists.org/why_fiber?
Please extend your reading/viewing pleasure by visiting these sites.
--
Patricia Malarcher ERRATA
We regret the omission of Bette Levy’s name from the list of contributors on page 64 in the Fall
issue. She should have been listed in the “Sponsors” category. |
