19: "Text/ile" by Maggie Leininger (Friday, July 24)

This project stemmed from my initial interest in weaving (inspired directly by Anni Albers) and my interest in scientific representations of organizational systems. For this project, I received funding from the Illinois Arts Council and from The Present Group to produce 50 woven samples of the human genome map. I also partnered with the Jaquard Center in Hendersonville, NC to produce these designs that originated from a digital image of the genetic coding sequences. Once transformed from an Illustrator file into fabric, I immediately noted how similar they were to the works I have long admired by Anni Albers. In fact, a colleague of mine in the field, who had the opportunity to interview Anni, even commented on the similarity between these works. I plan to reproduce these designs in color next summer of 2010 at the Jacquard Center and am currently taking commissions for these color fabrications.

I am strongly influenced by the Bauhaus, and in particular, the Weaving Workshop that existed within the school. Many of these great artists, designers, and architects produced works that transcended their specific field such as interior design, photography, architecture, painting, weaving, etc. to produce works that seem as fresh and daring today as they did then. The idea that design was something every person could enjoy, even if the object was mass produced, set off an explosion of accessibility in the arts that is still present today.

The images seen on this website include jacquard woven fabric, inkjet prints, video, and plastic boxes that exhibit a label referencing the content. This work was exhibited in Oakland CA in September of 2008.

Maggie Leininger is a fiber artist living in Chicago with a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an MFA from Arizona State University. More of her work can be viewed at www.maggieleininger.com.

The Present Group is directly related to the production of this artwork. http://www.thepresentgroup.com