Colorado State University Presents Contemporary Textile Exhibit Inspired by Central Asian Designs

An exhibit of printed silk textiles created with a unique process of hand-dyeing and hand-weaving, combined with state-of-the-art technology, will be featured in Colorado State University’s Gustafson Gallery.

The textiles featured in the exhibit, Digital Ikat Textiles: New Directions for the Silk Road, were created by Edwina Straub as part of her master’s degree studies in design and merchandising. Ikat refers to a traditional dyeing technique that uses a resist dyeing process similar to tie-dyeing. By combining the traditional hand-dyeing and hand-weaving techniques with digital textile printing, Straub created a collection of 25 digitally printed silk textiles inspired by traditional Central Asian designs.

The designs in this exhibition were originally inspired by a lecture on Central Asian textiles given by donor Judi Arndt in 2009. Over a period of several years, Arndt has given many traditional Central Asian textiles and garments from her private collection to Colorado State University’s Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising. The Gustafson Gallery also falls under the umbrella of the Avenir Museum. Arndt is an accomplished weaver and dyer specializing in the use of natural dyes from plant sources. For more than a decade she has traveled the world exploring Central Asia, India, China and Southeast Asia to interact with artisans, and to collect examples of traditional textiles and garments.

The exhibit opens Thursday, April 5, with a reception from 5 – 7 p.m. Both Arndt and Straub will be present during the reception to interact with gallery viewers about the work. The Gustafson Gallery, part of the Department of Design and Merchandising, is located in room 318 of the Gifford Building on Lake Street. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday. Admission is free. The exhibit runs until June 30.

The Department of Design and Merchandising is in the College of Applied Human Sciences.

-30-