Inspired by the interdependent nature of the skeleton and the skin, the Annet Couwenberg Sewing Circles is the new exhibition in the Zuckerman Museum.
Couwenberg spent ten years doing cultural research, digital experimentation, and finished artifacts that have been used to create her extraordinary sewing designs.
The exhibition explores her artistic work, while displaying how it ties in with her culture. Born and raised in the Netherlands, Couwenberg was introduced to lacemaking as an activity.
The exhibition focuses on the tools used in the process of sewing, a collection of sewing circles, and photos of a diverse group of people, wearing these collections.
The sewing circle collection was made from a textile activity and a personal cultural history of the Dutch. This is showcased in Couwenberg’s “family affair” portraits, as each individual is seen wearing or holding one of the many sewing circles.
Some common tools used in this exhibition were paper, wood, and cotton. Each display has a distinctive look and arrangement, woven into circles. A favorite display was the deviation in polyethylene and hand-felted balls. This was the first display upon entering the exhibition. The cloud-like display, almost like cotton candy balls, was sewn into what stood as a tree. There was a wooden base with a stick connecting the bottom to the top of the sewing. The nude color scheme finishes it off with a good look.
Annet Couwenberg was inspired through her work with a scientist named Dr. Lynne Porenti. They studied and researched the nature of skin and skeletons.
Couwenberg’s neck pieces have sharp edges that look like the bones of a fish. Close attention to the exterior of the neck pieces, will reveal how straight and defined the edges are.
Although most of her inspiration came from her work, Couwenberg incorporated her cultural and family history in her sewing pieces. This is displayed in the Renourish series.
These pieces resemble tables, with a fabric covering on the top of wooden leg pieces. The fabric that covers these displays is a Dutch textile from the intersection of technological platforms and historical paradigm.
This piece was extremely fascinating because of how intertwined the wooden parts were. At first, it looked similar to one of the pieces just thrown in together. However, a closer look at them shows that they come together like a puzzle. Each wooden dowel is joined in with a 3D printed connector, that holds all the pieces in place.
The Zuckerman Museum’s new exhibition of Couwenberg’s sewing circles surpassed expectations. The time and effort it took to showcase a collection of historical artifacts and materials was admirable, bringing together each piece beautifully. If you’re a student interested in physical art or an art lover looking for another museum to explore, the Zukerman Museum is the place to visit!
