I will be participating in a virtual program “Lesser Know Ikat Traditions” Feb. 29th at 10:00 EST and speaking at 11:30 on Ikat in Contemporary Art. All are welcome to tune in and the program is free. Register for the program here.

The global patterns of ikat textiles have captivated the imagination of researchers, collectors and enthusiasts around the world. For centuries, the technique has been used to create extravagant clothing and other fabrics of deep cultural meaning. The distinctively blurred, feathered or jagged patterns of ikat-dyed textiles are found everywhere from Japan to the Americas, including vast areas of Southeast Asia, India, Central Asia and the Middle East. 

In this virtual gathering, scholars and artists who contributed to the book Global Ikat: Roots and Routes of a Textile Technique examine some of the lesser-known ikat traditions, including examples from the African continent, Laos and Thailand, and new interpretations by contemporary artists.

Introduction and moderation
Rosemary Crill, former curator, Victoria and Albert Museum

Ikat on the African Continent  
Duncan Clarke, textile dealer and author

Ikat Traditions of Thailand and Laos   
Linda McIntosh, research associate, Tracing Patterns Foundation

Ikat in Contemporary Art  
Polly Barton, artist