article in NYTimes on white work

neo-classicism

did you see the article on the first weave and stitch ever found? it was grass but beautiful.

Thanks for sending this out, Ruthann. It was a very interesting article. I especially liked this paragraph: "This show traces the influence of neo-Classicism through the nonprofessional ranks of homemakers, embroiderers and amateur artists. Everything in it was made by women, whose place in art history is steadily increasing. This exhibition contributes to that expansion and suggests a possible answer to the question asked by the title of Linda Nochlin's famous 1971 essay, "Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?" To wit: there have been; they just didn't work with paintbrushes or hammers and chisels."

Maybe someone's finally "getting" it!!!! :)

Joan

Thanks for posting this - I missed it in the Times. I am in NYC so I'm definitely making a plan to see this show!

Whitework, Redwork, is a type of BLACKwork traced to pre 1700 and A lovely piece of whitework n Berlin was carbon dated to 1400 to 1410bc. So calling it neo classic is like calling the INCA neo classic. It started with the use of black wool on wool by the Germany Tribes per Roman. NEO Classic by the NYC Times in a insult. Green on Green was found in Florida sewn by the orginal tribe ( stone age ) there. It was grass on grass , neo classic, so limits the history of needlework. history shows MEN were the first and they lost to limit it to "women" work is so wrong.

Your history of needlework dates, Proudnly far passed what the NYC times claims.

the greeks did not invent eveything.

No - but according to one of my "classics" prof's they sure liked to think they did! She was a hot ticket.

But - Neo-Classical is a time, starting about 1750 or so, when all things ancient Greek, and to a lesser extent, Roman were very fashionable. Lots of ornate columns on buildings along with friezes, women's fashions had lots of pleats (a la Goddess gowns) and many young ladies embroidered pictures "representing" Classical ruins, stories and ideals.

Cheryl