Lauren Williams

Exhibition Statement

Pattern & Plain Weave refers to the weave structure that is the focus of my exhibition, most commonly known as Overshot. This structure, which from the 19th century was prominently used by handweavers in the Appalachian region to produce coverlets, is characterized by delicate and intricate repeating patterns that are floated over a hearty plain weave ground cloth. The title also captures something of what I have always found so magical about Overshot, a structure that is so strikingly modern in its bold and complex designs yet is constructed on a simple foundation that is as old as weaving itself. While traditional Overshot textiles were often composed of a more limited palette of colors, my own exploration of the structure is driven by my interest in how the intuitive, free play of pattern and color floats over the methodical, durative process of production. By taking the coverlet as canvas I continue to explore the dichotomies that have always animated my weaving practice: the artwork and the utilitarian object, the poetic and the prosaic, the pattern and the plain weave.

Photos marked with an * were taken by Kori Price -- thank you Kori!