While Covid reigned during 2020, a new unique gallery that celebrates the beauty of textile art quietly opened in downtown McLean. The gallery, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located at 6819 Elm Street was the brainchild of Great Falls resident Nancy Preston. Preston, who owns The Quilt Shop of McLean along with her family, was interested in sharing her love of textile art and how fabric can be used to create unique works that inspire, tell a story, and celebrate the artistry of others. During the 30+ years since opening her first shop in Vienna, she has witnessed firsthand how family quilts, one of the many forms of textile art, are treasured by their owners and appreciates the craftmanship involved in creating them.
As a non-profit, the gallery’s operating costs are currently covered by the Preston family. However, the family is optimistic that others who recognize the cultural aspects, historical value, and beauty of textile art will become patrons so that the gallery can continue to be a place to educate and inspire. Plans are underway for textile art experts to occasionally speak at the gallery and other special events are being discussed. Although the artwork is available for purchase, transactions are directly between the artist and buyer; a commission is not taken by the gallery.
The current show, a collection of 17 pieces by Lauren Kingsland, www.laurenkingsland.com, a visiting artist with the Arts and Humanities program of Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University Hospital, has drawn inspiration from the traditional South Indian art form known as Kolam, also known as Muggu.
The traditional sketches take the form of geometrical line drawings, some of which are very complex, composed of straight lines, curves and loops drawn around a grid pattern of dots. The creations are used to decorate the entrance to a home in order to bring prosperity or are drawn down a street to celebrate a special occasion.
The patterns are created early in the morning using mediums such as chalk powder or rice flour to decorate the doorsteps and entrance to a home. During the day the drawings get eaten, walked on, washed away, and generally obliterated, and new ones are drawn the next day.
Kingsland’s textiles capture the creativity and fluidity of the meditative patterns and colors of this ancient decorative art.
To learn more about the gallery, take a virtual tour of Kingsland’s show (which runs through July 15, 2021), or check on future exhibitions see https://www.themcleantextilegallery.com. For more information on The Quilt Shop of McLean and their skilled team of seamstresses and restorers see https://www.quiltdoctor.com.
