Art Speaks • Kasuri: A Japanese Textile Tradition in Global Context with Lee Talbot
Join curator and textile scholar Lee Talbot for a behind-the-scenes exploration of the exhibition Irresistible: The Global Patterns of Ikat, on view at The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum in Washington, D.C., and the artistic and cultural legacy of ikat, a resist-dyeing technique known in Japan as kasuri (絣). Colorfully illustrated with examples from the exhibition and The Textile Museum collection, this lecture will trace kasuri’s origins and historical development while highlighting the rich variety of this textile’s traditions in Japan.
Lee will explore how kasuri dyers and weavers have achieved global recognition for their meticulous planning and execution, ongoing technical experimentation, and mastery of materials including cotton, silk, and various bast fibers. Technical and stylistic innovations have helped maintain kasuri’s relevance and economic viability over several centuries, and time-consuming methods of hand weaving and dyeing continue alongside mechanized factory production in present-day Japan.
Monday, Nov 4, 2024
12–1 pm CT
Virtual, on Zoom
Pricing: Sliding scale, Free – $20
