Coverlet: Boston Town c. 1939

This coverlet, “Boston Town,” by Byron Dingman, is undated but likely made with woven materials. The muted reds, blues and purples are so interesting, not quite clashing, but full of subtle tension. I love that Dingman’s patterns are so full of life, with birds and flowers and architecture all coexisting. Up close, the texture of the weaving catches your eye, how the individual threads contribute to the overall image. It’s like each little stitch is a tiny brushstroke. Think of the focus and control it takes to create a piece like this. There’s a particular row of tiny houses near the bottom that have caught my eye. The simple shapes that make up the structures, give the work a playful, folksy quality. The way Dingman layers images reminds me a little of Henri Rousseau. Both artists create these dense, imaginative worlds that are both familiar and dreamlike. Art is really about seeing and feeling, isn’t it? Not so much about hard facts, but about opening up new spaces in our minds.