Katie Manduca
Middlebury College
Project
A Common Thread: Textile History Around the World
United Kingdom, Norway, Guatemala, Bolivia, Turkey
My Watson year will be spent studying the history and evolution of textile patterns in five countries. In each country I will connect with local artisans in order to explore the traditional textile techniques, including knitting, weaving, and rug making, as well as the origins and meaning of the color work, geometric patterns, and symbols seen in each region. I will also explore how technology has altered the role of traditional craftwork in local communities by allowing women to become financially independent, as well as impacted the style of the textiles themselves as traditional patterns are adapted to new art forms for sale on a global market.