EXHIBITION AT THE TEXTILE MUSEUM OF CANADA

Wednesday, 05 December 2007 21:35

Toronto, Ont. - Every thread has a soul – this Arab proverb is particularly true for the textile culture of Maghreb, the most northwestern part of Africa. From ancient times this place of the sunset (meaning of the Arabic word Maghreb) served as a crossroads for peoples and influences moving between sub-Saharan Africa and the Mediterranean. The rich and diverse textile art from this region (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia) reflects elements of the many cultures that have inhabited it over the centuries as well as the varied and sometimes extreme natural environment. On exhibition through 18 May, 2008.

For the nomadic tribesman living in the Atlas Mountains, the sedentary countrymen of the plains and the multicultural city-dwellers of the Mediterranean seashore, textiles have always been more than simple necessities of life. They were a means of creative expression, and a way of recording life experiences and relationships with nature and other cultures.

This rare collection also demonstrates the range of textiles shaped by the varied natural environment. Luxurious embroidered silks from the coastal cities of the Mediterranean show a cosmopolitan and urban sensibility with Arab and Spanish influences, while the densely woven shawls of the Berber peoples of the Atlas Mountains are a testament to the harsh winters that result from the high elevation of their territory. Technically demanding, these shawls can take months, even years to create. Journey between the sea and the desert and experience the many cultures of North Africa.

For this exhibition, the Textile Museum of Canada is showcasing its rich and rare Northwest African collection for the first time. This collection is one of the only and best of its kind in North America.

For additional information visit the Textile Museum of Canada at : www.textilemuseum.ca