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Textile artists from the southwestern province of China known as Guizhou are renowned for their mastery of embroidery and indigo resist dyeing, also known as batik. Over centuries they have created a distinct visual language that continues to evolve in the hands of contemporary designers.
Examples of these unique textiles will be on view in Textile Arts from Guizhou, China in the Ben Shahn Center for the Visual Arts on campus from October 17 through December 2, 2022. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday, November 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free. A reception will coincide with the first day of an international symposium on the topic of the Silk Road on Wednesday, October 26 from 3 to 5 p.m. in the South Gallery. A series of talks by local artists whose work is engaged with traditions of plant and resist dyeing techniques will provide personal and regional perspectives on the enduring appeal of these timeless methods of production; dates will be announced.
The elaborately embroidered festival costume of the Buyi, Dong, Miao, Yao, and Zhuang people is in part a result of their geographic isolation in the mountains of southwest China. This exhibition brings together a selection of traditional textiles and new artworks utilizing resist dyeing, embroidery, and metalworking techniques by Chen Mei, Guo Jing, Huang Di, Ma Li, Pan Mei, Pan Taojie, Yuan Xiaole, and Zhang Sisi. It is co-organized by Jianshan Wang, dean of the College of Culture, Arts, and Communication at Guizhou Minzu University; Zhiyuan Cong, professor of art and director of the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University, and Casey Mathern, director of the University Galleries, William Paterson University. Lenders to the exhibition include Guizhou Minzu University, Guizhou University of Commerce, Qiandongnan Vocational and Technical College for Nationalities, and the Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities.
The exhibition is one of two on view concurrently in the University Galleries. Also on view through December 2, 2022 in the South Gallery and East Gallery is A Durable Thread: The Silk Road from China to America, featuring historical design, clothing, and textiles from points along the legendary trade route, reimagined with the “Silk City” of Paterson, NJ as its terminus.
Textile Arts from Guizhou, China and A Durable Thread: The Silk Road from China to America are both presented in conjunction with a two-day international symposium examining the history of the famous Silk Road, “Across Time and Space: The Silk Road and the Silk City,” to be held October 26 and 27 at William Paterson University. With the American “Silk City” of Paterson at its core, the symposium focuses on the temporal and spatial extension of the historical coordinates of the Silk Road and its connection to the development of China and the United States in culture, education, art, industry, and commerce since the 18th century. Events include academic presentations and discussions, art exhibitions, a guided field trip, and more.
This exhibition is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. The William Paterson University Galleries are wheelchair-accessible. Large-print educational materials are available. For additional information, please call the William Paterson University Galleries at 973-720-2654.
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