Head covering c. 1920

This anonymous head covering, which now lives at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, is a real marvel, a textile piece dyed with intention. I imagine the maker, patiently folding and tying, coaxing the dye into these deep blacks and vibrant reds. Look at how the central motif emerges, a face-like form with its four bold eyes staring back at us. It's so interesting to see how something like the four eyes could be protective, warding off evil, or maybe a symbol of heightened awareness. What a process! It makes me think about Sheila Hicks and her approach to weaving as sculpture. I can see this as a form of painting, a real material conversation. The gold trim adds such a rich layer, like a frame that is not quite containing the wildness of the dye. It reminds me how every artist, in their own way, adds to this ongoing, global conversation. The whole thing resonates as a powerful form of expression, full of nuance and meaning, open for us to interpret.