Shrouded River
As part of her signature "woven-forms" started in the early 1960s as part of the fiber arts movement, Lenore Tawney used the open-warp technique to create this work, leaving vertical slits in the weave. The free-hanging display of the piece emphasizes its three-dimensionality and sculptural qualities, activated by the vertical openings that allow light to filter through. The width varies throughout, with the bottom and widest areas held in place with metal rods, and the warp ends knotted and braided. Many of Tawney’s weavings suggest the flow of water found in rivers, fountains, or cataracts. The title Shrouded River also alludes to ancient Andean cultures where fine textiles were used as shrouds in burial rituals.
Artwork Details
- Title: Shrouded River
- Artist: Lenore Tawney (American, Lorain, Ohio 1907–2007 New York)
- Date: 1966
- Medium: Linen, wood, metal
- Dimensions: 13 ft. 6 in. × 22 1/4 in. (411.5 × 56.5 cm)
- Classification: Textiles
- Credit Line: Purchase, Lenore G. Tawney Foundation and Lila Acheson Wallace Gifts, 2023
- Object Number: 2023.644
- Rights and Reproduction: Lenore G. Tawney Foundation – lenoretawney.org
- Curatorial Department: Modern and Contemporary Art
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