Four textile artists probe repetition in pattern

By their very nature, textiles require repetition: the back-and-forth movement of the shuttle, the way a needle thrusts in and out of the cloth, the daubing of ink onto a print screen.

Four textile artists will explore how repetition establishes pattern in “Repeat Repeat,” an exhibition of their work at the Gallery of Design in the Human Ecology Building. Three will speak on campus.

Piper Shepard of the Maryland Institute College of Art draws upon architecture to fashion large hand-cut pieces of cloth resembling walls, screens, lattices and more. She will lecture on Sunday, Feb. 1, at 2 p.m. in 21 Human Ecology. Jerry Bleem of the School of the Art Institute in Chicago uses ordinary objects to illustrate their profound importance on people’s lives. He will discuss his work on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 5 p.m. in 440 Human Ecology. Susie Brandt, also of the Maryland Institute College of Art, works in screened fabric and says domesticity inspires her. Kyoung Ae Cho of UW-Milwaukee uses nature as her pattern source. She will speak Tuesday, March 2, at 5:30 p.m. in 440 Human Ecology.

Co-curator Jennifer Angus, assistant professor of environment, textiles and design, says repetition is well-entrenched in our existence. “The information that the eye sees is processed quickly by the brain to form consistent information or logic, a visual shorthand. In short, pattern offers a kind of narrative or progression of thought,” she says.

“Repeat Repeat” will remain on display through Monday, March 8. An opening reception will follow Shepard’s lecture on Sunday, Feb. 1. All events are free and open to the public.

For information, contact gallery director David Wells, 262-8815, dhwells@wisc.edu.