TEXTILE MUSEUM ART v TRADITION v CULTURE v INNOVATION Weaving together the past, present, and future.
ABOUT HISTORY COLLECTIONS EXHIBITS ACTIVITIES FUTURE ENDEAVORS HOW TO REACH US SHOP CONTENTS
Small in Size, Big in Knowledge ABOUT Most people know that Washington, D.C. is a culturally diverse city full of history. Like most metropolitan cities, it has its fair share of great places to visit. With so much to see, there s bound to be some hidden jewels. Situated just a few blocks from DuPont Circle where the embassy s of the world reside is a small and stately museum full of historic collections of textiles from across the globe. Just think of it as a place where the latest fashions and linens of yesterday are displayed. Like most museums, the Textile Museum s purpose is to educate the public. The museum s goal is to introduce the textiles on a local, national, and international level while expanding the knowledge, cultural importance and appreciation for textiles Compared to some of Washington D.C. s grander museums that take a full day to navigate, the Textile Museum is small, making it a great place for those who have allot of curiosity but a little bit of time. It s easy to navigate and feels more like taking a stroll through a cozy mansion. The museum s proximity to Connecticut Avenue and DuPont circle, serves as a great place to drop in for a visit followed by lunch or an early dinner at one of the many area restaurants. While most people would think if they don t have an interest in the history of fabric, this museum is not for them, but they d be wrong. Surprisingly there s allot that goes into making textiles and this museum breaks it down in such a way that visitors are surprised to learn the museum has something for everyone. For those into science and technology, the Textile Museum offers a hands-on experience where you can learn about the science behind the textiles. If you re into history, there are collections that are literally thousands of years old. Each piece offers a small tidbit of historical information that s a window into the textiles past. Those who love anthropology would enjoy the museum s variety of pieces from around the globe.
A Collectors, Collector HISTORY When a hobby becomes and obsession, you get something as great as the Textile Museum. Back in the late 1800s a man named George Hewitt Meyers, took a little vacation to (place) and while he was there he saw a (item) that he wanted to bring back as a symbol of his travels. That was the beginning of his love affair with textiles. To him, there was just something special about the way an artesian put his all into making a silk rug strong enough to last generations. As he traveled more, George began to learn more about the textiles he purchased and his hobby grew into a fascination that grew into a passion for collecting textiles. Then as his knowledge grew, he became obsessed with collecting textiles from around the globe. After a few year his collection grew into several hundred, then several thousands of textiles. His collection consisted of not only textiles of the Western Hemisphere, but also of pieces from across the globe such as Asia and Africa. With his home bursting at the seams, George decided it was time to find a place to house his collection. Not wanting to over-share George began to display his collection with a few with classical silk textiles and carpets from the Middle East. Then as he became interested in a few pieces from South America he added those to display. From there he decided to show pieces from Asia and Africa. Within five years his little museum had gained international notoriety. By the time of his death, Meyers had collected nearly 3,100 textiles from Asia and Africa and an-
A Little Bit of Everything Oriental Rugs: COLLECTIONS Just imagine the feel of your bare feet as it goes from a cool hard bamboo wood floor to a step on soft Oriental carpet. The primary color is burnt umber divided by flowing yellow flowers and intersections of geometric shapes in warm blues and reds. Its pattern is repeated from one end to the other in such a meticulous way that there must be a proud artist somewhere in the carpet s past. While museumgoers won t literally get to experience touching the carpets with their feet, someone somewhere once did. Then it became a piece of history. Within the Textile Museum resides just such a collection of Oriental rugs. They were artfully created and have since become one of the most important research collections of its type. Their importance lies within their range, depth, and beauty. There is no museum in the world that has a collection of Egyptian, Spanish, Mamluk, Asian, Anatolian and African rugs like the Textile Museum. Many of these rugs date back as far as the 15th century. While some of them are only fragments of their former glory, you can still get a sense of just how grand they were. Unique textiles: While the museum boast a large collection of rugs, George Hewitt Myers had a broader interest that was comprised of delicate linen, clothing and special event pieces. There is a vibrantly displayed collection of pre-columbian Peruvian scarves, rugs, and clothing. The collection is colorful and and represents the rich history of the Peruvian people. Not to be outdone, there s a fascinating collection of Islamic textiles that tell their own story. It contains tiraz and Coptic textiles woven into intricate shapes and rich colors like copper and gold.
See Them While They Last If your timing is right and your luck is up, you may get the opportunity to squeeze past the large crowds to see one of the museum s exhibitions. While most only last a few months, it s worth a visit because many pieces may not make it back for years to come. Out of Southeast Asia: EXHIBITS Scheduled to make and appearance on April 12, this collection is just in time for spring. The focus of this exhibit is to display sustainable art. It explores the rich tradition and interpretation of contemporary art and design. Miss this and you miss the opportunity to see how Southeast Asian art demonstrates how contemporary artist are preserving the tradition of their ancestors. Green the Color and the Cause: Long before the green movement that generation X, Y, and D think they invented, was the green textile revolution. That is, the use of natural materials to produce sustainable material. So many cultures believed in preserving the land and only using what was needed. Those same cultures associated the color green with nature. That said, green was already in a really long time ago. This exhibit shows how the symbolic use of the color green affected the techniques people used to create green textiles. Many African and South American cultures believed that the color green was also a sign of fertility, rebirth, and new beginnings. While they may not have been conscious environmentalist, they were doing their part way before they had knowledge of the effects humans
Hands on Fun No museum would be complete without offering some hands on activities that further educate the public. The Textile Museum is no different. For Families: On Saturdays there s a hands-on exhibit related event that deals with exploring the art of that particular exhibit. Adults Only: The grown folks program is comprised of tours, lectures and workshops. There is also a several film viewings and textile appreciation mornings. have on the planet. ACTIVITIES
State of the Art FUTURE ENDEAVORS Although the Textile Museum has a rich history and has been an integral part of the DuPont Circle neighborhood, the museum will be moving in mid- 2014. It will be joining with George Washington University at the main campus in Foggy Bottom. The new state of the art facility will have room to display a larger portion of the museums collection. The new location will also allow the museum to take advantage of it s proximity to so many young minds creating a better opportunity to educate the next generation while expanding their knowledge of art among other cultures. That said, if you d still like to see the museum in its currently stately mansion, you d better make a trip soon. have on the planet.
Visitors Information Hours: Tuesdays-Saturdays: from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays: from 1-5 p.m. Mondays: Closed Federal Holidays: Closed location: 2320 S Street NW, Washington D.C. Getting There: HOW TO REACH US Parking is very limited so the D.C. metro-rail would be the best mode of transportation. The museum is just a few blocks from the Redline DuPont Circle metro station. If you drive, take 395 north to Connecticut Avenue and make a left on S Street Contact Us: For questions or further information, please visit our website at www.textilemuseum.org or call (202) 667-0441.
Souvenirs Take Us With You: If you want something to remember your experience by, the Textile Museum shop contains an array of handmade textiles, trinkets, souvenirs, and books to take home with you. The Textile Museum Shop is truly a source for one-of-a-kind gifts. These wall hangings arrived directly from Laos wrapped in rice paper! Our shop is brimming with colorful merchandise from the region in anticipation of our next exhibition Out of Southeast Asia: Art That Sustains. SHOP