The Washington times., 1936-02-24
Handmade
Textiles in
Exhibit
Bv WILMA LAVILLE

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to see the modern, rather
primitive yet sophisticated
textiles shown up on Connecti-
/ cut Avenue. Primitive they
seem to us because they are
hand-loomed, sophisticated be-
cause they may 60 into the
most modern, up-to-date home.
If you're at all interested in
decoration, or in textiles, be
sure to see them. But here's
their story.
The modern trend of interior
decorating is helping to keep alive
a form of handicraft art which
was fast Succumbing to the ma.
chine age-the pr duction Of
hand-worked decorating textiles.
It may seem strange that modern
ism, which is based on advanced
technique and reflects the spirit
of modern mechanical progress,
also looks to the past for one OF
its necessary elements. The first
principle of modern design is in.
sistence upon an honest express
sion of the materials used. 1t has
been found that handmade fab
RIGS fulfill that requirement and
best complement the work of the
skilled modern interior decorator.
Examples of these fabrics are
now on display at the Exhibition
Of Hand-loomed and Hand.
blocked Textiles, which is being
held at 1920 Connecticut Avenue
from February 81 to March 6. The
purpose of the exhibition is to
demonstrate the variety and art.
istry of designs and fabrics Of
this kind which are now available
for decorating purposes.
The textiles on display not only
reflect the painstaking labor Of
skilled craftsmen but also the
newest foreign and domestic ideas
Of design and color. They prove
that it is now possible to achieve
distinctive effects in decorating
the home through the use OF
specially made fabrics just as one
may choose a distinctive article Of
attire.
Inherited Skill
Today, peasants in Bavaria,
Sweden and Holland, working
from designs of leading Continent
al artists, ply the art of hand.
weaving textiles needed in the new
American home The skill with
which they blend the wool. flax
and silk fibreS into the newest de-
signs for window draperies or fur
niture upholstery has been passed
down to them from generation to
generation. The looms which they
use are often primitive. Frequent
ly they carry their looms from vii.
lage to village or wherever the
skill of their craft is needed to
work on new design.
In America the hand weaving
OF these textiles is a newer art.
Some of it. is done by small groups
OF workers. one or more of whom
may also be designers. In Chi
cago an incapacitated professor is
producing textiles of fine designs
and quality. In New York, the
Community Craft Weavers, all
blind men and women, weave de-
signs furnished by artists who are
also educators of the blind. These
SlghtleSs craftsmen support them
selves with the product of their
craft and will work up any design
sent to them.
What is the advantage of these
handmade fabrics in decorating?
Why are they particularly needed
IN modern decorating?
Individual Pieces
First, hand looming and block.
ing made possible the production
OF smaller pieces than are made
oy machine. This affords a bet
ter opportunity for the expression
OF the artists personality. The
worker follows no standard pat
tern, but can employ a variety
Of colors and designs by changing
the materials used and altering
the design at will. Hand work
also makes possible a variety Of
textures needed to break the
straight lines of modern decorat-
ing. BY effective and judicious
use Of color and design the hand.
worked fabric also is made to give
the fine effects of light and shade
which are necessary in good con-
temporary decorating. Finally
soft threads which are not suit
able for machine weaving and spe.
clal dyes. also not used in volume
production, can be employed by
the craftsman to achieve dis
tlnctive effects.
The integrity of the worker. the
complete utilization of the artistry
OF the designer. the perfection that
comes through individual atten.
tion to detail-all these combine
in handmade textiles to provide
a perfect medium to beautify the
modern home. Once again, the
old and the very new join to meet
the needs of progress and to pre-.
serve valuable tradition in crafts
manShip.