Textile Museum: Washington DC

Earlier in February, I visited the Textile Museum in Washington DC

www.textilemuseum.org

+1 202 667 0441

2320 S St NW, Washington, United States

No, it is not on “The Mall” like other fine museums, but if you love textiles it is a wonderful place to visit and well worth the trip.

Dragons, Nagas, and Creatures of the Deep

February 3, 2012 through January 6, 2013
To celebrate the Year of the Dragon, Dragons, Nagas, and Creatures of the Deep Exhibit showed a global selection of textiles depicting dragons and other fantastical creatures of legend.

Across the world and over the centuries, dragons have taken many forms, from the beneficent nagas (divine snakes) of East and Southeast Asia, to the fearsome flying beasts of Western traditions. Whether viewed as good or evil, these powerful creatures became symbols of prestige for those who were permitted to use their images to decorate clothes and furnishings.

Weaving Abstraction: Kuba Textiles and the Woven Art of Central Africa

Another exhibit that fascinated me was the textiles of the Kuba kingdom are among the most distinctive and spectacular works of African art. Emerging in the early 17th century, the Kuba kingdom grew into a powerful and wealthy confederation of 18 different ethnic groups located in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. While they have fascinated artists, collectors and designers for over a century, this is the first major museum exhibition in the U.S. to showcase the artistic inventiveness and graphic power of Kuba ceremonial dance skirts within a wide-ranging survey of Kuba design. More than 50 exceptional 19th- and early 20th-century objects are on view, including ceremonial skirts, 'velvet' tribute cloths, headdresses and basketry from the permanent collection of The Textile Museum, the National Museum of African Art, and serveral private collections.

I found some really fun and unique things while I was there. I loved this very primitive skirt.  Funny, it’s a skirt that I would wear this summer.  I loved the fabric and closure.  See... what’s old is new again. 

I can also see this fabric in pillows on a natural fiber couch.  I love to find new inspiration!

I enjoyed browsing their museum store, rated one of the 10 best museum stores in the US. They had some wonderful handmade accessories, wearable arts clothing, jewelry, hats and textiles.  They carried a huge selection of books and fabrics for pillows, rugs and some lovely felt shoes.  You can buy many of their handcrafts online: http://www.textilemuseumshop.org  They also list wonderful gift ideas for that person who is hard to buy for.

The museum is located in a neighborhood. It focuses on increasing public knowledge and appreciation of the world's textiles. Today, The Textile Museum is one of the world's foremost specialized art museums and receives 25,000 to 35,000 visitors each year from around the world.
To learn more about the founder of The Textile Museum and the history of the institution, visit our online exhibition Ahead of His Time: The Collecting Vision of George Hewitt Myers.

If you can't make it to Washington DC you might be interested in checking out their online exhibits. 

Online Exhibitions Green: the Color and the Cause Online Presentation Ahead of his Time: The Collecting Vision of George Hewitt Myers Online Presentation Common Threads: Unraveling the World of Textiles Online Presentation Pieces of a Puzzle: Classical Persian Carpet Fragments Online Presentation Flowers of Silk and Gold: Four Centuries of Ottoman Embroidery Online Presentation

I finished off this adventure with a cup of tea down the street where I reviewed all the materials and brochures I had picked up.

Cheers, I love to end my Museum visits with a cup of tea to pour over the brochures and flyer's I have picked up.