Indian Textiles and Costumes: Perspectives and Potential exhibition open



Indian Textiles and Costumes: Perspectives and Potential exhibition open

18 Jan 2011    

Indian Textiles and Costumes: Perspectives and Potential opened on Tuesday, January 18 and continues on exhibition at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery through February 11, 2011. Traditional Indian handcrafted textiles and their use in Indian costumes and everyday life provided the foundation for exploration and design development for the work presented in the exhibition.

Anjali Karolia, visiting Fulbright Nehru lecturer from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda and Wendy Weiss, professor of Textiles, Clothing & Design, led eight graduate students on a personal journey. The outcome was a deeper understanding of the people of India, and the significance that textiles have in defining regional diversity through skilled craft. Elaborately detailed textiles, infused with meaning and historical reference provided the basis for the development of contemporary student design.

Graduate students working on the Master of Arts degree in the department created new works specifically for this show. The work includes interpretations of Indian dress, from the draped sari and dhoti, the stitched chudidar, ghagara and choli, to accessories and western dress. The Indian painted textiles, Kalamkaris, have been translated to screen printed wall panels; embroidered motifs are rendered as fabric prints; and the traditional tree of life motif is embroidered on denim. Three weft ikat saris Weiss collected in India in 2009 on a Fulbright Nehru Research award and an embroidered textile from the department’s historic collection are on display.

The designers included in the show include December 2010 graduates: Tacia Booton, Melissa Caldwell, Utah, and Erica White, Michigan. Thais De Oliveira, Brazil and Sandra Starkey, Lincoln will present their thesis work in the gallery this spring and Kristen Weber; Michaela Knoll and Yang Yu have just completed their first semester in the graduate program. Department alumnae Kathryn Alms, Cassandra Clayton, and Katey Kaiser designed weft ikat scarves that were handwoven in Gujarat, India. These are on view and available to purchase. Proceeds from sales will support future international design collaborations.

The Hillestad Gallery is part of the Department of Textiles, Clothing and Design in the UNL College of Education and Human Sciences. The gallery is on the second floor of the Human Sciences Building on East Campus, on 35th Street north of East Campus Loop. Hours are 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and by appointment. Admission is free. Guest parking is available near the building and metered stalls are located in the Nebraska East Union lot. For more information, call (402) 472-2911 or visit our online gallery page. .


College of Education and Human Sciences
Textiles, Merchandising & Fashion Design