A Carnival Surround Recently Featured in Hillestad Gallery

12 Apr 2011    

Hand-printed fabrics by Thaïs de Oliveira created a festive yet reflective mood in the Hillestad Gallery installation

Textile design graduate student Thaïs de Oliveira's Master of Arts thesis exhibition A CARNIVAL SURROUND closed on Friday April 8 with a gala reception in the Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery, accompanied by the sounds of Brazilian carnival eminating from the new gallery sound system. De Oliveira, a native of Brazil, created a collection of screen and intaglio printed fabrics celebrating the festive and colorful celebrations that mark the beginning of the Lenten season in a wide range of cultures. Described as "the most famous party in the world" the Rio de Janeiro Carnival takes place over numerous days and is an all-out community effort. In her printed fabrics De Oliveira evoked the dazzling color and the luminous irridescence of the carnival costumes as well as the feverish movement that defines many of the parades and related events.