I, along with two of my classmates, went to visit the American Folk Art Museum in hopes of clarifying for myself exactly what American Folk Art is as well as finding examples of genuine beauty and harmony, which are integral components of art. What we discovered was a very appealing form of art–decorated quilts. The designs on these quilts were very diverse, and included flowers, leaves, dolphins, and stars. As you can see, the theme of nature was heavily incorporated into this art.
In addition, balance and harmony are crucial ingredients of textile art. The aesthetic appeal of quilts depends not so much on the specific images or the colors used, but rather on the extent to which all the shapes and images fit into the big picture. The designs all tend to be very symmetrical, since symmetry is a great way to convey balance and harmony. Moreover, textile art tends to be quite abstract, and the overall meaning of the designs is usually open to interpretation.
Interestingly enough, my visits to the Highline Park and the American Folk Art Museum were almost back to back. The unique device at the Highline Park creates an abstract image out of the buildings across the street for those who look through it. This immediately reminded me of the abstract textile designs back at the museum.
Finally, the abstract nature of the quilt designs gives this form of art a philosophical dimension. As you know, I am a very philosophical person, and I take enjoyment in contemplating on the true nature of things. One of the most important philosophical truths that textile art conveys is the idea that everything in the universe is part of something bigger, which is in turn part of something bigger yet. Everything is interrelated, and smaller parts are crucial components of larger parts. Everything fits together perfectly. In addition, I noticed that almost all of the textiles contain triangular shapes that are similar to stars and/or rays of sunlight. The shapes tend to have sharp edges. I believe that such imagery conveys the idea that for overall smoothness and harmony to be possible, the individual components need to have a definite function/role that contributes to the bigger picture in a definite way. The rigid shapes and definite patterns are used to portray order. The use of circular and swirly shapes instead of rigid ones would represent amorphousness and chaos, and that is the opposite of what textile art seeks to portray.
