Description
Book SynopsisThe author unpicks the threads that link female textile artists and the arts they produce, revealing a global and historic patchwork of assorted roles, identities and representations. Entertaining as well as informative, this book offers a unique overview of female-centric textile art production including embroidery, weaving, soft sculpture and more. Includes over 20 interviews with contemporary textile artists, providing fascinating insights into their practices, themes and personal motivation. Tells us: How knitting became a spying device in wartime Why dress design was so important for the Suffragettes Why spiders were emblems in ancient times and now How women's arts and crafts moved from the backroom to the gallery showroom.
Trade ReviewUnravelling Women's Art isn't only a compelling read, although it is indeed just that. Its focus on the creators, rebels and innovators who have added to the powerful canon of works - by women - in, of and about textiles is comprehensively referenced, elegantly constructed into meaningful and valuable sub-genres, and populated with illuminating examples of both known and lesser-known women practitioners. A timely and attractive publication, Unravelling Women's Art lives up to its title, un-peeling, un-doing and un-tangling a complex and expanded territory, making delightful work of revealing its joyous, eclectic and culturally vital secrets, polemics, and fine and delicious conversations!--Professor Catherine Harper "University for the Creative Arts, Farnham, UK."; “We’re in a time of #imitation of ‘#influence’ in which people crave acceptance by others – afraid to go against the herd. The Herd Rules. This great book is about the rebels, the pioneers, the loners.” – Bonnie Greer, writer;“The book I had to dive straight into when I got it was Unravelling Women’s Art by P.L. Henderson, and a fascinating read it i. Looking at the way craft and art was separated and how textile art has developed through the years with wonderful artist interviews.” – Indie Bookshops and Publishers, end of week roundup; “It’s a thrilling story – exploring the global and historic patchwork of assorted female roles, identities and representations expressed through the needle arts so long overlooked, and covering female-centric textile art production including embroidery, weaving, soft sculpture and knit, not just in the western canon but in cultures around the world. Not merely a scholarly text, its ambitious scope makes for a compelling read, thanks to Henderson’s exuberance in championing women’s textile art.” Pg 57 March/April 2022 | Embroidery (embroiderymagazine.co.uk)
