The author unpicks the threads that link female textile artists and the arts they produce, revealing a global and historic patchwork of assorted roles, identities and representations. Entertaining as well as informative, this book offers a unique overview of female-centric textile art production including embroidery, weaving, soft sculpture and more.
Includes over 20 interviews with contemporary textile artists, providing fascinating insights into their practices, themes and personal motivation.
Full colour with dozens of new and original images of the featured women artists' work.
Tells us: How knitting became a spying device in wartime Why dress design was so important for the Suffragettes Why spiders were emblems in ancient times and now How women's arts and crafts moved from the backroom to the gallery showroom
CONTENTS: Chapter 1 Representation Mia Hansson, Frances MacDonald, Margaret MacDonald, Ann Macbeth, Meret Oppenheim, Sonia Delaunay, Sophie Taeuber-Arp, Rebecca Crompton, Constance Howard, Miriam Schapiro, Faith Ringgold, Louise Bourgeois, Judy Chicago, Michelle Kingdom, Jenni Dutton, Miao Ruiyan, Han Ximeng, Shen Shou, Jessica So Ren Tang, Sandra Chung Nga-shan, Lin Tianmiao, Sheena Liam/Times New Romance, Laura Sanchez Filomeno, Ana Teresa Barboza, Ekaterina Penzina, Irem Yazici, Teresa Lim, Faith Ringgold, Harriet Powers. Interviewees - Jenni Dutton, Sheena Liam/Time New Romance, Michelle Kingdom, Maryam Ashkanian. Chapter 2 Indigenous Britta Marakatt-Labba, Marion Tuu'luq, Xao Yang Lee, Mata Aho Collective, Christi Belcourt, Melissa Cody, Anna Brown Ehlers, Gina Adams. Interviewees - Melissa Peter Paul, Britta Marakatt-Labba, Gina Adams. Chapter 3 Nature Louise Bourgeois, Kate Faulkner, May Morris, Jane Morris, Vanessa Bell, Cressida Bell, Laura Ashley, Janine McAullay Bott, Kiki Smith, Moy Mackay, Sophie Standing, Kimika Hara, Annalisa Bollini. Interviewees - Meredith Woolnough, Karin Celestine, Rachel Wright. Chapter 4 Politics Sonya Clark, Sara Rahbar, Jessie Newberry, Mary Lowndes, Jae Jarrell, Betye Saar, Faith Wilding, Nancy Youdelman, Gert McMullin, Thalia Campbell, Alison Saar, Betsy Greer, Sarah Corbett, Marianne Jorgensen, Leah Dixon, Lea McComas, Mireille Honein, Hayv Kahraman, Shan Goshorn, Sayraphim Lothian. Interviewees - Betsy Greer, Rachelle Romeo, Sophie Neville, Diana Weymar Chapter 5 Fashion Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven, Emilie Flge, Sonia Delaunay, Elsa Schiaparelli, Coco Chanel, Yoko Ono, Mary Quant, Terese Agnew, Alketa Xhafa-Mripa, Jaime Black, Shelley Niro, Vanessa Paukeigope Jennings, Cindy Sherman, Frida Kahlo, Kate Daudy, Adriana Marmorek, Amal Kenawy, Nike Davies-Okundaye, Nora Fok, Sylvie Facon, Tracie Peisley Interviewee - Mariko Kusumoto Chapter 6 Identity Jessie M. King, Gunta Stlzl, Anni Albers, Ottie Berger, Liubov Popova, Varvara Stepanova, Embroiderers of Actuality, Gee's Bend quilters, Judith Scott, Wu Tsang, Harmony Hammond, Victoria Udondian, Marinka Massus, Jessica So Ren Tang. Interviewees - Alia Ali, Rachelle Romeo Chapter 7 Sculpture & Installation Tracey Emin, Nancy Spero, Senga Nengudi, Carolee Schneemann, Ana Mendieta, Mona Hatoum, Sheila Hicks, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Dorothy Tanning, Kaarina Kaikkonen, Guerrilla Girls, Mary Sibande, Mary Sibande, La Donnan, Ghada Amer, Kimsooja, Chiharu Shiota, Jeongmoon Choi, Rivane Neuenschwander, Ana Teresa Barboza, Joana Vasconcelos, Roxanne Jackson. Interviewees - Permindar Kaur, Bryony Jennings, Ana Teresa Barboza Chapter 8 Recycling Edith Meusnier, Atefeh Khas, Tara Goodarz, Parisa Rajabian, Hillary Waters Fayle, Susanna Bauer, Heather Riniker, Bisa Butler, Stacey Sharman, Vanessa Barrago, Hoda Zarbaf, Anne Kelly, Elizabeth Morisette, Diana Yevtukh, Maura Grace Ambrose, Jiseon Lee Isbara, Karine Jollet, Yin Xiuzhen, Diana Scherer. Interviewees - Vanessa Barrago, Anne Kelly Chapter 9 Weird & Wonderful Susie Freeman, Anna Dumitriu, Rebecca Eakinsmeaden, Natalie Baxter, Ruth Marshall, Ipnot, Lucy Sparrow, Aheneah, Magda Sayeg, Carol Hummel, Olek, The Herne Bay Cosy Crew, Profanity Embroidery Group. Interviewees - Susie Freeman, Profanity Embroidery Group.