Indonesian Textiles

Richard Tuttle and Mary Hunt Kahlenberg

INDONESIAN TEXTILES is a special exhibition curated by Richard Tuttle. The show defines Tuttle’s aesthetic sensibilities in his selection and presentation of the expressive textiles of Indonesia. His selection has been made from the impressive antique collection of Mary Hunt Kahlenberg co-owner with Robert Coffland of Tai Gallery/Textile Arts.

Tuttle, who has collected Indonesian textiles for years, says, “Captivating examples abound of how contemporary art has sought inspiration in the textile arts. Three artists in particular who have influenced me: Josef Albers, Ad Reinhardt, and Agnes Martin, have important ties to textiles. In discussing the influence of textiles in his own work Tuttle says, “In l967, I decided to use the material, canvas, as the material of my work. From the start, I looked for an original form; something I thought the 20th century had failed to produce. It became clear there was a push-pull ambiguity in the cloth itself, which was subsequently reflected in the over/under, under/over play in all of my shaped compositions.”

Accompanying the exhibition is a limited production catalog, with concept and design by Tuttle It includes a text by Tuttle along with his "love letters," as he refers to the captions he has composed for each piece. This is also an introduction and captions by Mary Hunt Kahlenberg that contextualizes the textiles. A reproduced drawing by Tuttle covered with hand-woven cloth on the cover illustrates Tuttle’s viewpoint that “Textiles and their respective processes bring awareness to a structure that becomes more and more invisible as it transfers the physicality of the hands to the spirituality of the head. Perhaps it is the evidence of the hand, which makes the textile visible.”

A special hardcover edition with beautiful handwoven cover is available at $65.00 (see below).

Hardcover edition:
Price: US$35.00

 

Hardcover & Slipcased edition:
Price: US$65.00