I had a interesting question today and that was is Theo Moorman a Tapestry technique? I replied no. That it has two wefts one doing plain weave the other an discontinuous extra weft, which hides the plain weave but is not a true discontinuous weft which tapestry has. How do you weigh in on this?

 

Comments

Sat, 09/10/2011 - 18:37

JacQueline Keller

I had to Google Theo Moorman, but wow is that stuff ever pretty, and some of it really reads as tapestry to me, though it differs technically.  Anyways thanks for helping me discover a new thing!

Tue, 09/13/2011 - 14:02

tommye scanlin

You're right, Cathy.  But it is a pictorial weave.  It's a type of inlay.  It's a wonderful technique as are the many other ways one can create images in weaving.  But the term "tapestry" is often used to describe any fabric pictorial method, from stitching to jacquard weaving, to true handwoven tapestry.

Tommye

Tue, 09/13/2011 - 21:16

tommye scanlin

Cathie,

Do you have Theo Moorman's book, Weaving as an Art Form: A Personal Statement?  It's very informative about her designing process and quite inspirational.

Tommye

Fri, 09/16/2011 - 10:03

Artistry

Yes, I do have her book. Beautiful work and a Clear description on her technique. She was inspired to develop her technique from her admiration of the old tapestries. There is misconception as to what a true tapestry is. ( according o ATA)We are having a local Tapestry Exhibit adhering to ATA's definition of tapestry. There is much education having to go on , since even weavers are confused by the many ways they've heard the word tapestry used. I understand too, to complicate things that in different parts of the world the word tapestry translates differently. This exhibit is what brought up the Theo Moorman question originally, would it be eligible, which we've ruled out. I think it might be nice to have a small section of the exhibit called Inspired by Tapestry or Pictorial Imagery, Non Tapestry Technique and show some of these other techniques. Again education.
Mon, 09/19/2011 - 11:32

tommye scanlin

... so important this is, Cathy. Yes, I also think an acknowledgement of other pictorial means is a great idea for the exhibit. So many ways weavers have shown images through the centuries and continue to do so today! All are equally important and wonderful in process. One of the reasons I did the interviews for the Textile Society of America symposium last year with weavers who've worked in both tapestry or other hand done pictorial methods and also jacquard was to explore the desires for image making in weaving. The technology one uses, whether plain weave discontinuous weft of true handwoven tapestry or the sophistication of a TC-1 loom or even industrial weaving machines doesn't matter quite as much as the desire to make the image, in my opinion. I hope you'll be posting information about the exhibit here! Tommye