Tuscany & Textiles
Artists at Work:
New Technology in Textile and Fiber Art
September 18, 2003 until November 30, 2003
Would it be possible to wear a coat that can stop not only natural
elements such as wind and rain but also hazardous elements such as
bacteria, or bullets, or fire? Is this our future? The possibilities of
marrying textile design and fiber creation are endless as far as the
creative mind can take us.
An acclaimed leader of fashion throughout the ages, Italy, looks to the
future with an exciting exhibition of contemporary artists in the textile
field.
Prato Panorama: Carmignano Hills
Courtesy www.prato.turismo.toscana.it
Breathtaking Tuscany has the honor of hosting a juried exhibition of
contemporary textile art with the collaboration between the Textile Museum
of Prato and The European Textile Network (ETN).
Title: Florence Panorama
Image Courtesy ENIT - Italian Government Tourism Board
Textiles are wearable art and certainly Italy is known as a leader in
the world of fashion. Fitting perhaps that the exhibition Artists at Work:
New Technology in Textile and Fiber Art is held in a country,
Italy, famous for revolution in art and fashion design and a city,
Prato, noted for textile expertise.
The juried exhibition marries textile production with contemporary
technology demonstrating the unending possibilities created with the
combination of two separate arts - computer and textile design.
Textile Museum of Prato
Title: Contemporary Gallery of The Prato Textile Museum
Photo by Mr. Mario Ciampi
Image Courtesy: Prato Textile Museum
Textile Art whether ethnic, contemporary, or historical all can be
found at the Textile Museum of Prato. Classical Dior gowns are displayed
along with contemporary works and ancient religious garments.
Title: Historical Gallery of The Prato Textile Museum
Photo by Mr. Mario Ciampi
Image Courtesy: Prato Textile Museum
The Museum was opened in 1975 after the generous bequest of over 600
pieces from Loriano Bertini a noted collector. Since then the collection
has expanded to over 6,000 items the oldest dating from the 5th Century.
Naturally the Museum also displays the various machinery and equipment
used throughout the ages in the processing of textiles and of course is
able to tell the history of the dying process.
Title: Exhibition Gallery of The Prato Textile Museum
Photo by Mr. Carlo Fei
Image Courtesy: Prato Textile Museum
Whether for personal, religious or decorative use the history of the
textiles and their purposes is an interesting aspect available to the
museum's guests.
Prato
Title: Duomo Square of Prato and Delfini Fountain
Image Courtesy: www.prato.turismo.toscana.it
Located in the heart of Tuscany near Florence, Prato is known for
textile traditions. Prato, like most of her country, has tremendous art
and architectural jewels waiting to be discovered. The Duomo is a key
structure containing priceless frescoes by Filippo Lippi and Agnolo Gaddi.
The Chapel of the Sacro Cingolo is noted for the pulpit that was created
via the efforts of Donatello and Michelozzo among others.
Title: Medieval Castle in the center of Prato
Image Courtesy www.prato.turismo.toscana.it
Geographically splendid Prato is within a Province that is surrounded
by the Val di Bisenzio mountains and the hills of Montalbano.
Title: Florence
Image Courtesy: ENIT - Italian Government Tourist Board
It was during the early 19th century that Prato began her domination
and expertise in the textile field.
European Textile Network
The goal of the European Textile Network is to promote a cooperation
between those working in the field of textiles whether artisans, museums,
or associations. A key aim is to promote contemporary design alongside
developing technology in the field of textiles.
One method they have used is to invite submissions from across
Europe for their International Exhibition Artists at Work: New Technology in Textile and Fiber Art.
Title: Exhibition Gallery View
Photo by Mr. Carlo Fei
Image Courtesy: Prato Textile Museum
Categories include computer aided design in weaves, knits, embroideries
and lace; digital and sublimation printing, fiber optics and many other
areas.
An International Jury Panel has been formed that includes noted textile
artists, along with the Director of the Prato Textile Museum, Emanuele
Lepri and the ETN General Secretary Beatrijs Sterk.
The future possibilities within textile design are endless - thanks to
the imaginations of the artisans working within this exciting and
constantly redeveloping field.
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