Textiles become vessels for memory, identity, tradition and personal narratives in new works by 16 contemporary female painters. Robert Lange Studios presents Interlace, a group exhibition that explores the language of fabric as both symbol and subject.
The exhibition opens this September and includes a wide array of paintings that celebrate cloth in all its forms. Captured in both figurative painting and still lifes, the overarching theme of the show is that cloth and textiles are more than decorative—they are witnesses to life, physical stories and heritage passed down.
Laura Prichett, Loose Ends, acrylic, wood mounted linen, 24 x 48 in.
“Fabric holds an incredible emotional weight,” says artist June Stratton. “A favorite dress, a handmade quilt, a worn tablecloth are all objects that quietly witness our lives. In many ways, they become stand-ins for the people and memories we hold closest. This exhibition explores those connections and the stories woven into the materials we often take for granted.”
Interlace, as a title, speaks to not only the weaving of thread, but the interconnected nature of the human experience. While each artist approaches the theme for their unique perspective, when viewed as a whole, the works reveal the threads that connect lives through objects held dear.
Marina Dieul, Petite Souris 882, oil, 4 in.
For gallery owner Robert Lange, the exhibition celebrates the technical mastery and universal language of storytelling. “One of the things I admire most about these artists is their ability to transform everyday objects into something deeply meaningful,” says Lange. “A piece of fabric can speak about family, history, place, culture or identity without a single word. What emerges in Interlace is a conversation between artists who use paint to preserve memory, honor tradition and tell stories that feel both personal and universal.”
Cindy Rizza, The Wilds, oil on linen, 36 x 36 in.
Featured artist Laura Prichett’s work Loose Ends depicts fabric sweeping across the throat of the figure creating a winged cap effect. “She casually tugs the trailing thread of the world around her, and though it gracefully loses shape, she does not,” explains Prichett. “She knows who she is and is unafraid of change. Her eyes are closed to the scene unfolding, but open to her internal narrative. She is at peace within the chaos because this chaos is part of the growing pains of reinvention.”
Leeah Joo, Adore, oil, 12 x 16 in.
Beyond the paint, Prichett speaks of the piece's deeper meaning. “Sometimes the work is not in stitching the tear closed, but in gently pulling the loose ends to allow what no longer holds itself together to come apart. Not always to discard the fabric of a belief or situation, but to let it unravel enough that it can be woven into something new: something stronger, truer and maybe even more beautiful than it was before.”
The full list of exhibiting artists includes Denise Stewart-Sanabria, Michelle Jader, Leeah Joo, Cindy Rizza, Diane Davich-Craig, Robyn Asquini, June Stratton, Sara Scribner, Anne Marie Kornachuk, Kerry Simmons, Laura Prichett, Ali Cavanaugh, Mary Edna Fraser, Kirsten Hoving and Mae Read.
The show opens September 4 with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. where guests can meet many of the exhibiting artists. It remains on view through September 25. —
Robert Lange Studios 2 Queen Street, Charleston, SC 29401• (843) 805-8052 • www.robertlangestudios.com
Powered by Froala Editor
